The U.S. State Department announced on Wednesday that Massachusetts native Keith Broomfield became the first U.S. citizen to be killed while fighting alongside the Kurds against the terror group known as the Islamic State or ISIS.

Idris Nassan, Kurdish co-deputy foreign minister of the Kobani district, also confirmed to CNN that Broomfield had been fighting with the Kurds against ISIS when he died.

"Broomfield was fighting alongside the Kurdish People's Protection Units in the Kobani countryside when he was killed battling against ISIS," Nassan said. "It is unclear how long Broomfiled had been fighting with the Kurdish forces, but he had become well acquainted with the militiamen, even earning the Kurdish nom de guerre Damhad (meaning, it's the time to do something)."

Broomfield's mother, Donna, said that her son felt it was "God's will" for him to travel to Syria about four months ago and join the Kurdish ranks to fight against ISIS.

"I didn't want him to go but I didn't have a choice in the matter," she told NBC News from Westminster, Massachusetts on Wednesday.

In a video made before his death, Broomfield explained why he decided to leave his family and friends in America and go to the war-torn towns of Syria.

"It seems like the right thing to do. I just want to help the cause any way I can," the 36-year-old said in a video that was released by a group affiliated with the Kurdish People's Protection Union, known as YPG.

Despite the risk of fighting overseas, Broomfield is just one of the many Americans who has chosen to aid Kurdish forces in their battle against ISIS. Iowa soldier Ryan O'Leary also returned to Iraq last month on his own accord to volunteer to help train the Kurdish army of northern Iraq to battle ISIS.

"ISIS isn't just a fight for them, it's a fight for all of us," O'Leary told The Des Moines Register while explaining why he opted to fight with the Kurds. "We need to help them out, and we're not doing it. ... The only thing I'm getting out of it is knowing that I'm helping make change in a country that deserves it and for a people that deserve it."

Although the FBI and the State Department have said what he's doing is legal, they warned that he could be kidnapped, used as a hostage or killed.

"U.S. citizens are warned against all but essential travel to Iraq," the department said. "The U.S. government does not support U.S. citizens traveling to Iraq to fight against ISIS. Although the U.S. government does not support the activities of these individuals, if a U.S. citizen travels to Iraq despite our travel warning, the U.S. government will still work to provide consular services as possible. However, our ability to provide consular services in Iraq is extremely limited."

O'Leary, a 28-year-old National Guard corporal who has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, also said he is prepared to face death.

"If it happens, at least I died doing something I believed in," he said. "It's better than sitting here on the couch watching news feeds of Christians getting killed and Muslims getting killed for no reason."