BAGHOUZ, Syria (AP) — The president of NBC News says a driver working with its reporters in Syria was killed by an explosive device.

Noah Oppenheim said in a statement Sunday that NBC employees escaped unharmed, and expressed "deepest sympathies" to the driver's family and loved ones. Oppenheim says "we are still gathering information from today's events, and are in touch with the driver's family to support them however we can." The statement did not say where Saturday's explosion occurred.

Several media outlets are in eastern Syria to cover the liberation of the last sliver of land held by the Islamic State group. The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces declared military victory over IS on Saturday.

IS left behind booby-traps and explosive devices, and there may be unexploded munitions in the area following U.S.-led airstrikes.