Pentagon identifies Marine killed in rocket attack

MAKHMOUR, Iraq, March 20 (UPI) -- On Sunday, the Pentagon identified the Marine killed at a firebase in northern Iraq. Staff Sgt. Louis F. Cardin was killed by a rocket attack.

Cardin was a member of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Islamic State forces launched two rockets at the U.S. firebase on Saturday. In a statement confirming Cardin's identity, the Department of Defense said the attack is under investigation.

"This is the second combat death since the start of Operation Inherent Resolve, and it reminds us of the risks our men and women in uniform face every day," Peter Cook, Pentagon press secretary, said in a statement.

"[Combined Joint Task Force] extends our condolences to the family and loved ones of the Coalition service member killed in northern Iraq earlier today," Col. Christopher Garver, a spokesman for the task force, said Saturday on Twitter.

Several other Marines were injured during the attack, the Pentagon confirmed.

The firebase had only recently been constructed, and Pentagon officials had not planned on confirming its existence until next week.

Though the media and American public hadn't been made aware of the new base, it seems IS forces observed the Marines moving into the area and firing practice rounds. There are reportedly a couple hundred Marines living in tents near Makhmour, a small town in northern Iraq. The new base is called "Fire Base Bell."