US State Department Probes Report of Michigan Woman Killed in Syria

Syrian state television said the American national was with opposition forces.

ByABC News
May 30, 2013, 2:31 AM

May 30, 2013 — -- The State Department is investigating reports that a U.S. citizen has been killed in Syria, the department told ABC News today.

Syrian state television said that a woman -- identified as an American national from Michigan -- was killed by government troops while fighting with opposition forces in Idlib province in the north of the country.

"We are aware of the case," a State Department official told ABC News. "As we do in all such cases, we are working through our Czech protecting power in Syria to obtain more information, and we appreciate the efforts of the Czech mission on behalf of our citizens. Because of privacy considerations, we are unable to comment further."

There was no independent verification of the report or of the woman's identity.

On Monday, Sen. John McCain, R.-Ariz., crossed the Syrian border to meet with rebel forces.

ABC News confirmed that during those meetings, rebel leaders asked for more support from the United States.