Officials name US soldiers killed in terrorist ambush

The U.S. Army released the identities of two Iowa National Guardsmen killed in an alleged ISIS attack in Syria on Saturday.

The Guardsmen were identified as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa, according to a Monday press release from the Army Public Affairs office. One civilian interpreter was also killed, and three other Iowa National Guardsmen were wounded in the attack, according to multiple sources.

Both guardsmen died on Saturday of “injuries sustained while engaged with hostile forces,” according to the release.

The service members were conducting a “key leader engagement” in support of counter-terrorism operations in the region, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote in a Saturday post to X.

The Army press release stated that the guardsmen were engaged in assignments related to Operation Inherent Resolve, a Combined Joint Task Force aimed at countering ISIS and other terrorist organizations in Syria and Iraq.

The soldiers’ names were previously withheld until 24 hours had passed after notifying the next of kin, Parnell specified in his X post.

“This was an ISIS attack against the U.S. and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them,” President Donald Trump wrote in a Saturday post to Truth Social. “The President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack. There will be very serious retaliation.”

Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds released a statement following the death of the guardsmen.

“Our hearts are heavy today, and our prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of our soldiers killed in action,” Reynolds said in her statement. “I ask that all Iowans stand united in supporting them and lifting them up in prayer during this incredibly difficult time. Please pray also for the fast and full recovery of our wounded soldiers.”

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