U.S. soldier killed after bomb blast in north Iraq

MOSUL, Iraq, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- A U.S. service member has died from wounds he sustained from a roadside bomb in northern Iraq, officials said Thursday.

The soldier was not immediately identified and officials did not specify exactly where the explosion occurred, but officials confirmed he died from injuries from an improvised explosive device.

The soldier is the fourth American serviceman to die in Iraq in the last two years. However, it was not immediately disclosed whether he was part of the offensive to retake Mosul, which began Monday.

About 300 U.S. special forces troops have been embedded in northern Iraq to support coalition forces in the Mosul Offensive. Hundreds more are involved in advise and support roles in Iraq.