The Marine killed Saturday in Iraq was at a temporary U.S. base that became operational just a few days earlier as America seeks to step up its involvement in the fight against the Islamic State, according to reports.
An Islamic State rocket attack killed one Marine and wounded several others on Saturday. In a statment Sunday, the Pentagon identified the Marine who died as Staff Sgt. Louis F. Cardin, of Temecula, Calif. Cardin was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 26th MEU out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., the statement said.
A defense official told CNN on Sunday that Cardin was participating in operations at a firebase near Makhmour that the Pentagon planned to announce this week.
CNN reported that a few hundred Marines now live in tents at the new base in northern Iraq, which will eventually lead to a limited ground combat operation supporting Iraqi troops in the fight against the Islamic State.
The Marines at the remote base are tasked with helping front line Iraqi troops through artillery support. They come from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, according to reports.
