A US Army soldier stationed in Kuwait died Sunday after collapsing while running outdoors, the military announced Monday. He was assigned to a unit deployed there under Operation Iraqi Freedom. His name and unit were not released pending notification of his family.

Military officials have ordered a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

Kuwait hosts roughly 25,000 American service members. The Gulf state served as the primary launchpad for the US-led coalition advance into Iraq in March 2003 and has since functioned as a transit corridor for allied forces rotating in and out of the conflict zone.

Last month, two US soldiers were killed in Kuwait after being struck by a vehicle. A subsequent inquiry found no indication of terrorist involvement in that incident.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in January 2005, in its own words.