WASHINGTON (AP) – A senior U.S. military officer says the Navy SEAL killed during a firefight in Iraq Tuesday was part of a quick reaction force that moved in to help American military advisers who came under Islamic State attack.

Army Col. Steve Warren says Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Keating was shot during a gun battle that involved more than 100 Islamic State fighters.

He says that U.S. military advisers were going to Teleskof, just north of Mosul, to assist Kurdish Peshmerga forces. Warren says enemy fighters launched a large, complex attack on the Peshmerga in the town, with armored Humvees and bulldozers. The U.S. troops called for support, and the quick reaction force, which was standing by to assist if needed, went in to get the U.S. forces out.