a  controlled detonation  was being conducted on a downed Iranian drone.

Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton

The Defense Department also stated that U.S. Navy pilot Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards had died in a helicopter crash earlier this month.

The U.S. Navy identified Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards as the sailor lost at sea after an MH-60S helicopter made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea. (Courtesy Photo | Cmdr. Gabe Edwards Bio Photo)

Their deaths were the first since the opening days of the conflict with Iran, during which 13 service members were killed.

The Source: Information for this article was taken from the Defense Department. This story was reported from Orlando.