The pair were killed on Sunday “while advising and accompanying Iraqi Security Forces during a mission to eliminate an IS terrorist stronghold in a mountainous area of north central Iraq.”

Coalition troops work with the Iraqi Security Forces and the Peshmerga mostly as trainers, but occasionally participate in offensive actions against the militant group. The coalition also provides extensive air support.

Those operations underwent a temporary pause earlier this year following the assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in January, but have resumed in recent weeks.

Reporter’s code: 50101