US Air Force charges service member in connection to insider attack on base in Syria
A US Air Force technical
sergeant has been charged in connection with an attack in April at a US
military base in northern Syria that injured four US service members, according
to an Air Force statement.
Sgt. David D. Dezwaan Jr., an explosive ordnance disposal expert assigned to the 75th Air Base Wing, Hill Air Force Base, has been charged by the Air Force, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
He was charged with aggravated assault;
dereliction of duty; destroying military property; reckless endangerment;
accessing a government computer with an unauthorized purpose and obtaining
classified information.
CNN first reported in June that the US military was investigating whether
an American service member set off explosives in an insider attack on the small
US base in northern Syria
The charges are brought after a criminal investigation into the incident
that took place in Green Village, Syria.
Two sets of explosives were set off on the base. An investigation by the
Army's Criminal Investigation Division and the Air Force Office of Special
Investigations led to Dezwaan being arrested in June.
A preliminary hearing is due to take place at Hill Air Force Base on
August 23. The Air Force said in its statement that anyone facing charges is
"presumed innocent unless and until proven guility."
Initially, US officials said they believed the April 7 attack was caused
by indirect fire on the base in a similar manner to rocket and mortar attacks
that have been carried out in the region by militia groups.
However, a week later, a military statement said that after "further
investigation" the attack was believed to a result of "deliberate
placement of explosive charges by an unidentified individual(s) at an
ammunition holding area and shower facility."
The explosives used were described to CNN by two officials as "not
insignificant" with more detonation power than a hand grenade. One
official characterized the explosives as "military grade."
The four injured service members were diagnosed and treated for traumatic
brain injuries after the explosions but returned to duty later in April.
After the incident, a "commander's investigation" was initiated
by the US Central Command, which oversees operations in Syria, but it was
turned over to the Criminal Investigation Division when it became clear the
explosive pattern was not caused by incoming fire, officials say.
The Biden administration maintains around 900 troops in Syria, including special operations forces to advise and assist Syrian Democratic Forces.
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