President Donald Trump performed one of his most solemn duties as the commander in chief on Wednesday by attending the dignified transfer ceremony for two Iowa National Guard members who were killed in an attack in the Syrian desert.
At the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, Trump observed the ritual that honors U.S. service members who lose their lives in action. He previously described this event as 'the toughest thing I have to do' as president.
The fallen guardsmen, Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, were members of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment and were hailed as heroes by the Iowa National Guard. A U.S. civilian interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat, was also killed in the attack, and three other National Guard members were injured, although their identities have not been disclosed by the Pentagon.
The tragic incident marks a significant moment as U.S. troops are part of a coalition fighting the Islamic State group in eastern Syria. Trump expressed his sorrow over the loss and vowed to take action in response.
During the ceremony, the fallen soldiers' transfer cases, draped in the American flag, were transported from military aircraft to a vehicle that took them to the mortuary facility at the base, where preparations for their final rest would take place.
The attack came in the context of a recent warming of relations between the U.S. and Syria. Trump had previously met with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, indicating a potential shift in dynamics concerning U.S. military presence in the region. Following the attack, Trump reassured reporters that it had no direct connection to al-Sharaa, who was reportedly devastated by the soldiers' deaths.
This is not the first time Trump has honored fallen soldiers at Dover; throughout his presidency, he has participated in several transfer ceremonies reflecting on the sacrifices made by U.S. service members across conflicts.
At the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, Trump observed the ritual that honors U.S. service members who lose their lives in action. He previously described this event as 'the toughest thing I have to do' as president.
The fallen guardsmen, Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, were members of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment and were hailed as heroes by the Iowa National Guard. A U.S. civilian interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat, was also killed in the attack, and three other National Guard members were injured, although their identities have not been disclosed by the Pentagon.
The tragic incident marks a significant moment as U.S. troops are part of a coalition fighting the Islamic State group in eastern Syria. Trump expressed his sorrow over the loss and vowed to take action in response.
During the ceremony, the fallen soldiers' transfer cases, draped in the American flag, were transported from military aircraft to a vehicle that took them to the mortuary facility at the base, where preparations for their final rest would take place.
The attack came in the context of a recent warming of relations between the U.S. and Syria. Trump had previously met with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, indicating a potential shift in dynamics concerning U.S. military presence in the region. Following the attack, Trump reassured reporters that it had no direct connection to al-Sharaa, who was reportedly devastated by the soldiers' deaths.
This is not the first time Trump has honored fallen soldiers at Dover; throughout his presidency, he has participated in several transfer ceremonies reflecting on the sacrifices made by U.S. service members across conflicts.
