WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will undertake one of the most solemn duties facing the commander in chief when he witnesses the dignified transfer of two Iowa National Guard members killed in an attack in the Syrian desert.
The ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware is a solemn ritual that honors U.S. service members who have lost their lives in action. Trump has previously described this duty as one of the toughest responsibilities he faces as president.
The two soldiers killed in Syria were identified as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, from Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, from Marshalltown. Both were members of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment and have been hailed as heroes by the Iowa National Guard.
A civilian interpreter working with the U.S. military, Ayad Mansoor Sakat of Michigan, was also killed in the attack. Additionally, three other members of the Iowa National Guard sustained injuries, though their identities have not been disclosed.
During the dignified transfer at Dover, the remains of the fallen service members, wrapped in American flags, are transferred from military aircraft to a hearse, where they will be taken to the base's mortuary. Trump expressed his sorrow over the deaths of the soldiers and vowed to seek justice.
This incident occurs in the backdrop of renewed U.S.-Syria relations, as the country has moved to join a coalition against the Islamic State group. Trump has recently established a rapport with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former insurgent leader. He clarified that the attack was not connected to the new Syrian leadership.
Trump has attended several similar ceremonies before, including honors for U.S. soldiers lost in previous conflicts.
