US airman charged in Syria base blast that injured troops

By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force has filed criminal charges against an airman in connection with an April explosion that injured U.S. troops at a base in eastern Syria. Tech. Sgt. David D. Dezwaan Jr., an explosive ordnance disposal specialist, is facing several criminal charges including dereliction of duty, destroying military property, reckless endangerment and aggravated assault in the blast that injured four service members. He’s been held in confinement by the Air Force since June. The military initially reported that the injuries were caused by artillery or another form of indirect fire. But the Pentagon later said it was carried out by the “deliberate placement of explosive charges” by one or more individuals on the base.