President Trump met with the families of U.S. service members who were killed in Syria last weekend and participated in a dignified transfer ceremony.
Families Gathered at Dover Air Force Base
The ceremony took place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where Trump joined the grieving families of Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, and Ayad Sakat. Torres-Tovar and Howard were members of the Iowa National Guard, while Sakat was a civilian contractor serving as an interpreter.
The Tragic Ambush
The three men were killed in what the U.S. government described as an ambush attack carried out by a lone shooter linked to ISIS. The soldiers were on a joint field patrol with Syrian security forces near the city of Palmyra before they were attacked. At the time, they were supporting a “key leader engagement,” according to a Pentagon spokesperson.
The Dignified Transfer
Trump met privately with the families before attending the dignified transfer ceremony. The bodies arrived in a C-17 aircraft, and Trump saluted as their caskets were carried off the plane. The proceedings were attended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, other military officials, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.).
Trump’s Statements
During the event, Trump vowed retaliation against ISIS for the attack. He also clarified that he does not blame Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who recently took power after years of rule by Bashar Assad. “No, this had nothing to do with the Syrian government. This had to do with ISIS,” Trump said Monday.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump met with families of U.S. soldiers killed in a Syria ambush.
- The ceremony occurred at Dover Air Force Base and included a dignified transfer of remains.
- Trump pledged retaliation against ISIS and distanced the attack from the Syrian government.
The event underscored the ongoing risks faced by U.S. service members abroad and highlighted the administration’s stance on counterterrorism efforts in the region.
