Iowa Guard Soldiers Killed in Syria: Attack Blamed on Islamic State

Two Iowa National Guard soldiers were killed in a weekend attack in Syria that the U.S. military says was carried out by the Islamic State group. The soldiers, identified Monday, were honored as dedicated members of the Iowa Guard.

Identification and State Tribute

The U.S. Army announced that Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres‑Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, lost their lives. Governor Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to fly at half‑staff in their honor, stating, “We are grateful for their service and deeply mourn their loss.”

Iowa’s National Guard said three other Guard members were wounded in the attack. Two were reported as stable, while the third was in good condition. The Pentagon’s chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, added that a U.S. civilian interpreter also was killed.

Attack Details and Investigation

The shooting occurred Saturday in the Syrian desert near Palmyra. It wounded members of the country’s security forces and the gunman was killed. The assailant had joined Syria’s internal security forces as a base security guard two months earlier and was recently reassigned amid suspicions that he might be affiliated with IS, a Syrian official said.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al‑Din al‑Baba described the incident as “a major security breach” and noted, “there have been many more successes than failures” by security forces in the year since Bashar Assad’s fall. He said the gunman stormed a lunch meeting between U.S. and Syrian security officials and opened fire after clashing with Syrian guards.

The Army said Monday that the incident is under investigation. Military officials and President Donald Trump have blamed the attack on an IS member.

Presidential and Military Reactions

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on social media: “Our hearts go out to their families, and we lift them up in prayer for strength and comfort during this time of grief.” He added, “The United States of America will avenge these fallen Americans with overwhelming force.”

Trump reiterated his promise of retaliation from over the weekend. Speaking to reporters at the White House, he said IS would “be hit hard.” He also reaffirmed his support for Syrian President Ahmad al‑Sharaa, stating the Syrian government was not to blame for the deadly attack. “This had nothing to do with him,” Trump said of al‑Sharaa. “This is a part of Syria that they really don’t have much control over. And it was a surprise. He feels very badly about it. He’s working on it. He’s a strong man.”

Trump welcomed al‑Sharaa, who led the insurgency that toppled Assad’s rule, to the White House for a historic meeting last month.

Guard Community Remembered

Stephen Osborn, Iowa National Guard adjutant general, said Torres‑Tovar and Howard were “cherished members” of the Guard family. He added, “Our focus now is providing unwavering support to their families through this unimaginable time and ensuring the legacy of these two heroes is never forgotten.”

Luis Corona, who has known Torres‑Tovar since middle school, recalled their friendship. He told the Associated Press, “I was very nervous, very new to the Army. I didn’t know what to expect. And just to see Edgar there, it was a big relief, a huge weight off my shoulders, like, OK, I won’t be alone in this.” He added that their bond grew into a brotherhood. Corona learned of Torres‑Tovar’s death while reading the news and shouted, “No!” in disbelief, shock, sadness, anger, and every form of distraught one can think of.

Jeffrey Bunn, Howard’s stepfather and chief of the Meskwaki Nation Police Department, wrote on the department’s Facebook page that Howard “loved what he was doing and would be the first in and last out.” Bunn also described Howard as a loving husband and an “amazing man of faith.” He noted that Howard’s younger brother, a staff sergeant in the Iowa National Guard, would escort “Nate” back to Iowa. An April Facebook post dedicated to the unit’s stories said Howard was inspired by his grandfather’s service and wanted to serve for 20 years, having served for over 11 years.

Key Takeaways

• Two Iowa National Guard soldiers, Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres‑Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, were killed in a Syria attack blamed on Islamic State.
• Three Guard members were wounded; an interpreter was also killed.
• The attack is seen as a major test of U.S.–Syria cooperation and occurs amid hundreds of American troops in eastern Syria fighting IS.
• President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth vowed retaliation, while Governor Reynolds ordered half‑staff flags.
• The Guard community honors the soldiers as cherished heroes and pledges ongoing support to their families.

The incident underscores the risks faced by U.S. forces and allies in the region and highlights the fragile nature of security cooperation in post‑Assad Syria.