The Air Force has identified Capt. William Dubois as the F-16 pilot killed earlier this week in a crash in the Middle East

as Capt. William Dubois

.

Dubois, 30, died when his aircraft F-16 crashed shortly after takeoff while heading out on a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the military's battle against Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria.

Dubois, of New Castle, Colorado, was is assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.

In a video statement, Col. Stephen Jost, commander of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw, said losing Dubois is "sad and tragic."

"Our most sincere condolences are with his family, his friends and squadron members during this difficult time," Jost said. "Captain. Dubois was a patriot, who was willing to put his life on the line every day in service to his nation. He was a valued airman, pilot and friend of those he touched here at Shaw Air Force Base. He will be greatly missed."

Dubois leaves behind a wife, according to an Air Force statement.

"Sadly, we lost a pilot," Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said Tuesday afternoon. "It's important to remember that, and that there's a family grieving right now. It's going to be a tough holiday season."

The F-16 crashed about 11 p.m. Sunday at , shortly after takeoff from an unnamed base in the region. U.S. Central Command would not say if the jet was headed to Iraq or Syria. While the F-16 was on a combat mission, the pilot encountered a problem and was returning to base and crashed in a "non combat related incident."

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The Pentagon said that the host nation of the base has not been named due to "sensitivities," and Kirby said Tuesday he did not expect that to change and the location of the crash being identified.

Sunday's The mishap is the second fatal F-16 crash of a 77th Fighter Squadron pilot on a combat mission in the past two years. On April 2, 2013, Capt. James Steel was killed when his jet crashed into a mountain near Bagram Field in Afghanistan following a close air support mission.

U.S. and coalition jets have ramped up their fight against IS targets and conducted between Nov. 28 and Dec. 1, conducting 28 airstrikes between Nov. 28 and Dec. 1 in both Iraq and Syria using attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft.

The Shaw F-16s deployed to an undisclosed location in the region to join the fight against IS in early October.

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