The U.S. ambassador to Iraq has confirmed the death of an Iraqi F-16 pilot, whose plane crashed Wednesday in Arizona.
Ambassador Stuart Jones praised Iraqi Brig. Gen. Rasid Mohammed Sadiq Hasan as a courageous man who dedicated his life and career to defending his country from Da'esh, an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.
"This courageous warrior surpassed every challenge and faced many dangers and risks during rigorous training, the most difficult such program a pilot can undertake," Stuart said in a statement on Friday.
"He eagerly undertook every task with the full knowledge that the skills he was gaining would defend his country and help his fellow Iraqi service members as they fight to reclaim Iraq from the Da'esh terrorists."
Hasan was nearing the end of his training in the U.S. and was looking forward to returning to Iraq as an F-16 pilot, Stuart said in the statement.
"The United States Mission in Iraq pays tribute to the General Sadiq [Hasan], his courage, and his commitment to service," he said in the statement. "We will work tirelessly with our Iraqi partners to fulfill his noble mission by continuing to do our part in defeating Da'esh."
Hasan was flying with the Arizona National Guard's 162nd Wing on Wednesday when his plane went down, reportedly rupturing a gas line and sparking a fire.
"Our hearts are with Gen. Hasan's family, friends and countrymen," Col. Phil Purcell, commander of the 162nd Wing, said in a news release on Friday. "Gen. Hasan's efforts in the defense of his nation should be commended.
"The 162nd Wing, the state of Arizona and the Air National Guard remain committed to our partnership with Iraq. Our coalition partners are vital to our Wing, and we have lost one of our own."
The Iraqi government has purchased 36 F-16s. The head of the Iraqi air force told the Associated Press in April that the first F-16s and Iraqi pilots are expected to arrive in Iraq on July 12.
Iraq's ambassador to the U.S. Lukman Faily offered his condolences to Hasan's family on Friday and said the Iraqi government would work with U.S. officials to determine the cause of the crash.
"General Hasan was a courageous pilot who was one of the first Iraqi airmen to come to the United States to train in the use of Iraqi F-16s that will soon be flying missions over our homeland," Faily said in a statement on Friday. "General Hasan was an essential part of a critical program to boost Iraqi security with Iraqi pilots flying Iraqi planes.
"This is an important initiative in our fight against Da'esh, and the death of General Hasan will be deeply felt. We have lost a dear friend, a brave colleague and a great patriot who gave his life in defense of Iraq and in our joint fight against terrorism at home and around the globe."
