Lance Corporal James Freeman, a 29-year-old soldier with the Royal Anglian Regiment, died on Sunday during a training accident in northern Iraq. The incident occurred as part of a routine exercise at Erbil air base under Operation Shader, the United Kingdom’s ongoing military campaign against the Islamic State group.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) described Freeman as a dedicated and experienced soldier with a promising career ahead of him. He was serving at Kendrew Barracks in Rutland and had been deployed on previous missions to South Sudan, Cyprus, Iraq, the Falklands, Jordan, Romania, and Kenya. The MoD also highlighted that Freeman was a devoted husband and father.

Colonel James WHM Bishop, commander of the operation, paid tribute to Freeman, calling him “the very best of his generation” and a trusted junior leader who was “larger than life and magnetically charming.” Lieutenant Samuel Frost, Freeman’s platoon commander, described him as an “impressive soldier” and said he would be sorely missed. Frost extended his sympathy to Freeman’s wife and daughter.

Corporal William Thorpe, a close friend and comrade, recalled Freeman as both a committed professional and a confidant. “James was my best friend,” Thorpe said, emphasizing his friend’s dedication to completing tasks to the highest standard and the personal support he offered to those around him.

An American soldier also died in the same training accident, according to statements from the U.S. Army. Details of the accident itself have not been publicly released by either the British or American military authorities.

Operation Shader, launched in 2014, continues to involve thousands of British forces conducting air strikes and supporting efforts to combat Isis militants in the Middle East. The loss of Lance Corporal Freeman marks a reminder of the ongoing risks faced by service members involved in operational training overseas.