SrA. Michael. J. Buras of Fitzgerald, Ga., died Tuesday in Kandahar, Afghanistan, as the result of wounds he received when an improvised explosive device detonated near him, the Defense Department announced Wednesday. Buras, 23, was assigned to the 99th Civil Engineer Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.