American Killed Fighting Against ISIS In Syria

An American citizen has died while fighting alongside Kurdish forces against ISIS in Syria, the State Department said Wednesday.

The State Department is in contact with Keith Broomfield's family and no further details are being made public at this time.

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The Associated Press reports Broomfield is likely the first U.S. citizen to die fighting alongside the Kurds against extremists.Nasser Haji of the Kurdish fighters known as the YGP told the AP that Broomfield was killed in battle on June 3 near the Syrian border town of Kobani.

An official speaking to CBS News correspondent Margaret Brennan could not say how Broomfield's remains would be repatriated or whether the Kurds would help with that. The official said there are "difficult circumstances."

The official said the U.S. government will try to provide "all possible consular assistance," but it's unclear what is possible. Brennan reports that since the U.S. has no diplomatic presence in Syria, the Czech government is the official U.S. protecting power and the United States government has to work through them.

The State Department official also told Brennan that the U.S. government does not support American citizens traveling to the region to fight with any group.

Dozens of foreign fighters have traveled to Syria and Iraq to fight with Kurdish militias battling the Islamic State group. Previously, a British citizen, an Australian and a German woman have been killed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.