Coalition identifies US commando killed in raid in northern Iraq as Joshua L. Wheeler

This photo provided by the U.S. Army shows Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler. Wheeler. A spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq has identified the commando killed in a raid against the Islamic State group in northern Iraq as Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler. (US Army via AP) (The Associated Press)

This photo provided by the U.S. Army shows Master Sgt. Joshua L. Wheeler, who was killed in a raid against the Islamic State group in northern Iraq on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015, according to a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. Army Col. Steve Warren told The Associated Press that Wheeler and dozens of U.S. special operations troops and Iraqi forces raided a compound near the city of Kirkuk, freeing approximately 70 Iraqi prisoners from captivity. (US Army via AP) (The Associated Press)

BAGHDAD – A spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq has identified the commando killed in a raid against the Islamic State group in northern Iraq as Master Sgt. Joshua L. Wheeler.

Army Col. Steve Warren said Friday that Wheeler, 39, was killed a day earlier when dozens of U.S. special operations troops and Iraqi forces raided a compound near the city of Kirkuk, freeing approximately 70 Iraqi prisoners from captivity.

Wheeler, a native of Roland, Oklahoma, is the first American to die in combat since the U.S. launched Operation Inherent Resolve, its campaign against the Islamic State group, last year.

The Department of Defense says Wheeler died from wounds caused by small-arms fire during the operation.

He was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.