A British Army soldier has died in a training accident in northern Iraq, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed on Monday in the House of Commons. The incident occurred on Sunday, and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has informed the soldier’s family, who have requested a period of privacy before more details are released. The identity of the soldier and the exact nature of the training exercise have not been disclosed.

Healey expressed condolences to the soldier’s family and unit, describing the situation as “desperately sad.” The death marks the first British fatality connected to the current heightened military activity in the Gulf region and is the second accidental death in the British Army in recent weeks—the other involving Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan, who died after a riding accident in May.

British forces remain deployed in northern Iraq as part of an ongoing coalition mission supporting Operation Shader, which aims to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State group by training local Iraqi and Kurdish forces in weapons maintenance, counter-IED (improvised explosive device) skills, medical, and engineering capabilities. Some personnel also provide intelligence, surveillance, and strike operations.

Many UK troops are based at a multinational Special Forces coalition base in Erbil, approximately 220 miles north of Baghdad and near the Iranian border. The base has been a focal point of heightened tensions since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran earlier this year, triggering retaliatory attacks. British personnel, including soldiers from C Company, 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, have recently taken responsibility for ground security roles at Erbil, conducting patrols and training alongside coalition partners.

Erbil’s base has experienced numerous incursions by Iranian-launched kamikaze drones and missiles, with RAF Regiment gunners deploying Rapid Sentry air defence missile systems to intercept hundreds of these unmanned threats. The MoD has indicated that Britain is increasing its stockpiles of precision missiles like the Martlet to counter ongoing threats from Iran or its proxies in the region.

The Defence Secretary did not provide further details regarding the training accident, and the MoD is respecting the family’s wishes for privacy. Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge described the news as “very sad,” while public responses have shown sympathy and gratitude for the soldier’s service amidst a volatile regional security environment.