A 34-year-old soldier serving with the Indiana National Guard in Iraq has tragically died in a non-combat incident, as confirmed by the Army on Monday. Capt. Eric Richard Hart, 34, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away on Saturday in Iraq while being assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion of Indiana’s 38th Infantry Division. The circumstances surrounding Hart's death are currently under investigation.
Although combat operations have ceased for U.S. forces in Iraq, approximately 2,500 troops remain in the country to support the Iraqi military in counter-Islamic State operations and training. Over the past 14 months, these forces have faced attacks, including the deployment of attack drones, rockets, and missiles by Iranian-backed groups in response to military actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
In September, the U.S. government announced an agreement with Iraq to conclude the American-led coalition's military mission against the Islamic State group by 2025. As part of this transition, U.S. troops have begun vacating bases that have been occupied for the past two decades.
The United States has maintained a presence in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, with combat forces leaving in 2011 before returning in 2014 to assist in combating IS. Since the defeat of the extremist group, Iraqi officials have periodically called for the withdrawal of coalition forces, particularly following significant events like the U.S. airstrike in January 2020 that resulted in the deaths of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Prior to this recent incident, a total of 4,419 troops had lost their lives in Iraq since the commencement of the 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom military campaign, with 3,482 deaths attributed to combat and 937 to non-combat incidents. Additionally, 31,993 troops were wounded in action. It's important to note that the Defense Department's data does not encompass all individuals who returned from service with conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder or toxic exposure that may have emerged later.
