First British army soldier dies at military base in Iraq since 2009, cause unknown

The British ministry of defence said an army soldier has died at a military base in Iraq under unexplained circumstances.

The British ministry of defence said an army soldier has died at a military base in Iraq under unexplained circumstances.

A British army soldier died at a military base in Iraq under unexplained circumstances. (Reuters File Photo)

The ministry named him on Tuesday as 22-year-old Lance Corporal Scott Hetherington from the Manchester area.

The cause of Hetherington’s death on Monday was under investigation. The ministry said it did not result from enemy activity and called it a tragic incident.

Hetherington, who had a daughter, was serving with the British Army. He is the first British soldier to die in Iraq since 2009.

The British Army has soldiers in Iraq supporting the country’s fight against Islamic State extremists and to help stabilize the government there.

British troops are training Iraqi forces in combat techniques at several camps around Iraq.