U.S. Seeks to Return Remains of 3 Americans Killed in Syria

Federal officials are trying to fly back the bodies of Americans who were reportedly killed in Syria, the U.S. State Department said Wednesday.

“We have been working to help facilitate the return of the remains of private U.S. citizens reported killed in Syria,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. “We remain in close contact with local authorities and stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance.”

The Kurdish news agency Rudaw named the Americans as Jordan MacTaggart, William Savage, and Levi Jonathan Shirley, and published their photos. The agency said the men were among hundreds killed in the battle to recapture Mambij from ISIS, citing Shawkat Berbahari, a manager of the Pishkhabour border-crossing with Syria.

The State Department could not confirm the number of Americans killed or how they were killed.