British SAS commando Sgt Matt Tonroe died in northern Syria in 2018 while fighting ISIS. Image from the Ministry of Defense.
Initially, it was believed that Delta Force Master Sergeant Jonathan Dunbar and SAS commando Sgt. Matt Tonroe were killed by an ISIS-placed improvised explosive device while on an operation looking for high-value targets in northern Syria. The deaths occurred in March 2018.
Dunbar, who hailed from Austin, Texas, was 36 at the time of his death.
US Special Operations Command validated a report from the UK Ministry of Defense, revealing the earlier account of US Army Master Sgt. Jonathan J. Dunbar’s death in a Syria raid was incorrect. It is now confirmed that Dunbar and Tonroe of the Special Air Service Regiment were killed by the unintentional explosion of coalition forces’ own explosives.
Five other soldiers were injured in the incident.
Sergeant Matt Tonroe, before becoming a member of the elite Special Air Service (SAS), was trained as a sniper and paratrooper. He successfully completed the notoriously challenging SAS selection and reinforcement cycle. His death during the operation in Syria forced the British government to acknowledge the presence of British Special Operations Forces (SOF) within Syrian territory publicly. Prior to this, the British Ministry of Defense (MoD) had maintained that British forces were restricted to Iraq’s borders. This “limitation” was largely symbolic due to the ill-defined nature of the border between Syria and Iraq, and it was seen as a way to shield the British government from potential political backlash over having troops deployed inside Syria.
SOFREP originally wrote up that story and set the record straight here.
We reported:
Initially, it was believed that Delta Force Master Sergeant Jonathan Dunbar and SAS commando Sgt. Matt Tonroe were killed by an ISIS-placed improvised explosive device while on an operation looking for high-value targets in northern Syria. The deaths occurred in March 2018.
Dunbar, who hailed from Austin, Texas, was 36 at the time of his death.
US Special Operations Command validated a report from the UK Ministry of Defense, revealing the earlier account of US Army Master Sgt. Jonathan J. Dunbar’s death in a Syria raid was incorrect. It is now confirmed that Dunbar and Tonroe of the Special Air Service Regiment were killed by the unintentional explosion of coalition forces’ own explosives.
Five other soldiers were injured in the incident.
Sergeant Matt Tonroe, before becoming a member of the elite Special Air Service (SAS), was trained as a sniper and paratrooper. He successfully completed the notoriously challenging SAS selection and reinforcement cycle. His death during the operation in Syria forced the British government to acknowledge the presence of British Special Operations Forces (SOF) within Syrian territory publicly. Prior to this, the British Ministry of Defense (MoD) had maintained that British forces were restricted to Iraq’s borders. This “limitation” was largely symbolic due to the ill-defined nature of the border between Syria and Iraq, and it was seen as a way to shield the British government from potential political backlash over having troops deployed inside Syria.
SOFREP originally wrote up that story and set the record straight here.
We reported:
While approaching their objective, Sergeant Dunbar, who was serving as a breacher, set off an IED that detonated explosives he was carrying on his person. Sergeant Tonroe and five other friendlies were caught in the blast, which resulted in the death of the SAS operator.
This is not how one usually thinks of a friendly fire incident, but technically that is what happened.
Both men died a warrior’s death, taking the fight to the enemy.
As someone who’s seen what happens when the truth is distorted, I know how unfair it feels when those who’ve sacrificed the most lose their voice. At SOFREP, our veteran journalists, who once fought for freedom, now fight to bring you unfiltered, real-world intel. But without your support, we risk losing this vital source of truth. By subscribing, you’re not just leveling the playing field—you’re standing with those who’ve already given so much, ensuring they continue to serve by delivering stories that matter. Every subscription means we can hire more veterans and keep their hard-earned knowledge in the fight. Don’t let their voices be silenced. Please consider subscribing now.
One team, one fight,
Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
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