| THE TOPLINE: As President Trump weighs withdrawing from Syria, the U.S. military is mourning the second U.S. service member to be killed in combat there since troops first deployed in 2015. On Monday, the Pentagon revealed the soldier, Master Sgt. Jonathan J. Dunbar, was part of a "kill or capture" mission against an unnamed Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) leader. Dunbar was with coalition forces "conducting a mission to kill or capture a known ISIS member when they were struck by an improvised explosive device," Pentagon spokesman Maj. Adrian Rankine-Galloway said in a statement Monday. WHAT HAPPENED: Apart from the acknowledgement of the general mission, the Pentagon has said little about the incident that killed Dunbar. What we know: Dunbar and a British soldier were killed by an improved explosive device Friday in Manbij, Syria. What we don't know: Whether the IED was in a building, a vehicle or buried in the road; who the target was; and whether THAT target was found, captured or killed. Reports have also said Dunbar was part of the Army's elite Delta Force, but the Pentagon has only publicly identified him as being "assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Ft Bragg, North Carolina." THE BIG PICTURE: The fatality comes as Trump apparently wants U.S. forces to leave Syria. If you missed it last week, Trump said, seemingly off-the-cuff, that the United States will "be coming out of Syria, like, very soon." "Let the other people take care of it now," Trump said at a Thursday speech in Ohio meant to focus on infrastructure. "Very soon. Very soon, we're coming out. We're going to have a hundred percent of the caliphate, as they call it. Sometimes referred to as land, taking it all back. Quickly, quickly." While the remark appeared to come out of the blue, reports later emerged that Trump has been telling advisors in private he wants to withdraw from Syria soon. The sentiment puts him at odds with his national security team, which for months has been arguing an early withdrawal could allow ISIS to re-emerge and would essential cede Middle East influence to Iran and Russia. Trump's national security team convinced him to stay in conflict he wanted to leave once already with Afghanistan. Can they do it again with Syria? IN OTHER NEWS… THE EAGLE HAS LANDED: The joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises known as Foal Eagle kicked off Sunday -- with much less fanfare than usual. The United States and South Korea have toned down the publicity for this year's exercises as both countries prepare their leaders for separate summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The exercises, which typically heighten tensions on the peninsula, will be the first real test for the détente that started with the Winter Olympics. But Kim has promised not to protest the exercises as part of his deal to get a meeting with Trump. Foal Eagle is one of the largest military exercises in the world and typically involves live-fire training, tank movements and sea and air drills. Last year, about 3,600 U.S. service members deployed to join the 28,000 U.S. troops already based in South Korea, for a total of about 300,000 U.S. and South Korean military personnel. Later in April, another exercise, Key Resolve, will also take place. That exercise is a computer-simulated desktop war game typically involving about 12,000 U.S. and 10,000 South Korean troops. DEMS SAY MILITARY MONEY FOR WALL IS ILLEGAL: Two top Democrats are warning the Trump administration that using Pentagon funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall could be illegal. Sens. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the top Democrat on the defense appropriations subcommittee, and Jack Reed (R.I.), the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, penned a letter to Defense Secretary James Mattis with the warning. "Since no funds have been appropriated for that purpose, we conclude that an expenditure of funds by the Department of Defense for the construction of a border wall would very likely violate the Antideficiency Act," they wrote. Reports first emerged last week that Trump has floated the idea of using Pentagon funding for the wall after he failed to win funding in the fiscal 2018 appropriations bill. The Pentagon later confirmed he and Mattis have discussed the issue. ON TAP FOR TOMORROW: The U.S. Institute of Peace hosts "Iraq and Syria: Views from the U.S. Administration, Military Leaders and the Region" at 10 a.m. at 2301 Constitution Ave. NW. Speakers include Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command; Mark Green, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development; and Brett McGurk, special presidential envoy for the global coalition to defeat ISIS. https://bit.ly/2Gs0ugp ICYMI: -- The Hill: US military: Five al-Shabaab fighters killed in Somalia strike -- The Hill: Graham: US leaving Syria would be 'single worst decision' Trump could make -- The Hill: Pentagon braces for John Bolton -- The Hill: Opinion: Hypersonics in enemy hands are immeasurable threat to America -- NBC's Today: US, South Korea resume joint military exercises – take an inside look -- The Washington Post: 'Fat Leonard' affected Pentagon's pick to lead Joint Chiefs -- Military Times: US air defense artillery brigade begins new European mission for first time since Cold War | 
