On Wednesday, President Donald Trump joined grieving families at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to honor the remains of two Iowa National Guard soldiers and a civilian interpreter who were slain in a Syrian desert attack.
Private Meeting with Families
Before the public ceremony, Trump met privately with the families of Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown. Both men served in the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment. The families, along with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, members of Iowa’s congressional delegation, and Iowa National Guard leaders, were present as the soldiers’ bodies were prepared for return to the United States.
The civilian interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat of Macomb, Michigan, also lost his life in the attack. He worked as an independent contractor for Virginia-based Valiant Integrated Services and will be buried in Michigan.
The Dignified Transfer
The solemn transfer began with a quiet procession of the three cases, each draped in the American flag, from the belly of a C-17 cargo aircraft to a dark, unmarked van. Trump, wearing an overcoat against the chill, stood with General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other senior military officials. The president remained silent, as is customary at such ceremonies, and simply observed the movement of the cases.
After the last case was placed in the vehicle, the remains were taken to the on-base mortuary for processing before being released to the families. Trump later returned to Joint Base Andrews and reflected on the event, saying it was a “beautiful event for three great people. And they’re now looking down and their parents and wives and all of the people that were there were, I mean, were devastated but great people, great people.”
Tributes and Remembrance
Howard’s stepfather, Jeffrey Bunn, described the fallen soldier as someone who “loved what he was doing and would be the first in and last out.” Howard had wanted to be a soldier since childhood, and his brother, a staff sergeant in the Iowa National Guard, escorted his body back to Iowa.
Torres-Tovar was remembered by fellow Guardsmen as a “very positive” family-oriented person who always put others first. The guard’s statement was released to the local TV station WOI.
Dina Qiryaqoz, the daughter of the interpreter, stated that her father had served the U.S. Army during the Iraq invasion from 2003 to 2007. She met with Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth privately, describing the meeting as comforting. “He seemed like he really cared about my dad and the other soldiers that were unfortunately killed during this attack,” she said.
Context of the Attack
The attack on Saturday was part of a broader conflict in eastern Syria, where hundreds of U.S. troops were deployed as part of a coalition fighting the Islamic State group. The Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, said the attack is under active investigation. The U.S. military confirmed the gunman was killed during the incident.
Trump has vowed retaliation. Earlier in the year, the most recent U.S. service members killed in action occurred in January 2024, when three American troops died in a drone attack in Jordan.
The Syrian desert attack followed a rapprochement between the U.S. and Syria, bringing the former pariah state into a U.S.-led coalition. Trump has cultivated a relationship with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, meeting him at the White House last month. Trump stated Monday that the attack had nothing to do with the Syrian leader, who he said was “devastated by what happened.”
Historical Visits to Dover
During his first term, Trump visited Dover Air Force Base in 2017 to honor a U.S. Navy SEAL killed in Yemen, in 2019 for two Army officers whose helicopter crashed in Afghanistan, and in 2020 for two Army soldiers killed when a person dressed in an Afghan army uniform opened fire.
Key Takeaways
- Two Iowa National Guard soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in a Syrian desert attack.
- President Trump led a dignified transfer of their remains to Dover Air Force Base.
- Families, state officials, and military leaders attended the ceremony.
The ceremony underscored the personal cost of U.S. military engagements abroad and the enduring respect afforded to those who serve.
