First U.S. Serviceman Killed in Ground Combat With Islamic State, Officials Say

U.S. officials announced this week that an American serviceman was killed in the recent raiding of an Islamic State stronghold in northern Iraq.

The American serviceman was reportedly killed when dozens of U.S. troops sought to free about 70 Iraqi prisoners being held captive at an Islamic State stronghold in northern Iraq.

The mission was carried out because it was believed the captives were facing "imminent mass execution," according to Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook.

According to Reuters, this is the first U.S. serviceman to die during ground combat with the terrorism group.

The serviceman, whose name has not been released, was apart of a special operations group that carried out the overnight mission to free the hostages.

Cook said in a statement that this recent ground mission should not indicate that the U.S. approach to the Islamic State is changing in any way.

"I would not suggest that this is something that is now going to happen on a regular basis, but I do think it is symbolic of the kinds of efforts that we are taking on behalf of our partners," Cook told reporters.

Cook added to reporters that the mission was considered necessary to save the lives of the hostages being held by the terrorist group.

"It was a deliberately planned operation but it was also done with the knowledge that imminent action was needed to save the lives of these people," Cook said.

The U.S. has primarily carried out airstrikes against Islamic State strongholds, targeting Iraq and Syria.