TSgt. Anthony E. Salazar, 40, of Hermosa Beach, Calif., died on April 13 in a non-combat-related incident at an air base in Southwest Asia, announced the Pentagon on Tuesday. He was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led air campaign against ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria. Salazar was deployed with the 577th Expeditionary Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force Squadron, according to the Defense Department’s release. The incident is under investigation.
The U.S. is moving to surge firepower over Iran, including its capital of Tehran, defense officials leading the campaign said March 5 at U.S. Central Command headquarters. Bomber strikes are being stepped up and additional fighter squadrons are being deployed.