WASHINGTON — U.S. officials said Tuesday that an American convert to Islam who recently traveled to Syria apparently has been killed in fighting. The circumstances surrounding the death of Douglas McCain, 33, remain unclear.
McCain was reportedly killed as rival militant factions fought near Aleppo, but officials could not say whether he was fighting for the Islamic State or another group.
“We were aware of U.S. Citizen Douglas McAuthur McCain’s presence in Syria and can confirm his death,” National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said in a statement Tuesday. “We continue to use every tool we possess to disrupt and dissuade individuals from traveling abroad for violent jihad and to track and engage those who return.”
