Pentagon denies ISIS assassination claim

The Pentagon on Thursday denied a claim made earlier in the day by an ISIS-aligned news agency alleging fighters from the Islamic State terror group were responsible for the death of an American military officer in Turkey.

ISIS’ Amaq Agency cited sources reporting a “covert unit…managed to assassinate an American officer.” But officials said the assertion was baseless.

“[The U.S.-led coalition against ISIS] can confirm that ISIL did not cause the death of a U.S. service member in Turkey,” U.S. European Command Spokesman LTC David Westover told Fox News. “We have no reports of any Americans killed in Adana, Turkey, by ISIL.”

Amaq didn’t name the person ISIS allegedly killed, but said, “the operation took place Monday in the officer’s home.” They said the announcement was delayed to “ensure the safety of the covert unit which conducted the operation.”

An American fire chief at Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base was killed at his home in Adana on Monday; however, Thaddeus Borowicz’s death was accidental, officials said.

The 61-year-old Michigan native allegedly locked himself out of his apartment and tried entering the residence via a 10th floor window by swinging from an electric cable tied to a chimney. But the wire apparently snapped and Borowicz fell into his courtyard and died from the impact. His body was found by a coworker after Borowicz did not report for work.

Westover called Borowicz’s death “tragic.”

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.