North Carolina Soldier Killed During Drone Disarmament Operation in Iraq
The U.S. military has identified Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, a 30-year-old from North Carolina, as the soldier killed disarming an Iranian drone during a controlled detonation in Irbil, Iraq. He was part of the 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th…

Miami Fort Lauderdale, FL, July 21, 2026 —
The U.S. military has identified the soldier who died during a drone disarmament operation in Irbil, Iraq, as Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton.
Sgt. Swinton, 30, was a resident of North Carolina. He was part of the 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, assigned to the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. The brigade is based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The incident occurred during a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone. Further details regarding the specific circumstances of the detonation and the timeline of events were not immediately available.
The U.S. military confirmed Sgt. Swinton’s death following the operation.
Story summarized from the original created by Steven Cejas on wsvn.com, see more information here.
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