Syrian forces kill American woman in rebel ambush - state media

PanARMENIAN.Net - Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad killed a 33-year-old Michigan woman who was a convert to Islam and a British man during an ambush on an opposition scouting mission north of the city of Idlib, Syrian state media said on Friday, May 31, Reuters reported.

Nicole Mansfield's aunt, Monica Mansfield Speelman, said the FBI had informed her that afternoon of the death of her niece, who was from Flint.

Syrian state television aired footage showing the body of the woman, who was dressed in a full black hijab. The footage also showed her American ID.

Syrian state media also reported that a British subject, named as Ali Manasifi, born in 1990, had been killed in the same ambush. A European security source confirmed that report to Reuters.

European security officials have said recently that between 70 and 100 British subjects are believed to be in Syria, with most believed to be fighting with Islamic extremist rebel factions.

The state media said an initial investigation showed that Mansfield and Manasifi were part of a group on a mission to explore a nearby checkpoint. A third opposition militant was reported killed, but the identity was unknown.

Government forces found weapons with the group and several documents, including a sketch of a security building, state media reported. Weapons were also found with them.

Speelman said on Thursday she did not have the details of how her niece had died.