Two Iowa Guardsmen Killed in Syria Attack Identified/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The U.S. Army has identified two Iowa National Guard members killed in a deadly attack in Syria blamed on the Islamic State. The assault also claimed the life of a civilian interpreter and injured three other service members. The attack raises security concerns amid growing U.S.-Syria military cooperation.
Iowa Guards Killed in Syria Quick Looks
- Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard identified
- Attack occurred near Palmyra, Syria during a U.S.-Syrian meeting
- Islamic State suspected as the perpetrator of the assault
- A U.S. civilian interpreter was also killed in the attack
- Three other Iowa National Guard members were wounded
- Gunman had recently joined Syria’s internal security forces
- Syrian officials admit major security breach during meeting
- U.S.-Syria ties tested as military cooperation increases post-Assad
- President Trump vows “serious retaliation” in response
- Investigation ongoing as military reviews base security protocols
Two Iowa Guardsmen Killed in Syria Attack Identified
Deep Look
The U.S. Army has officially identified the two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed over the weekend in a deadly attack in eastern Syria, which U.S. military officials have attributed to the Islamic State group. The soldiers were Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff in tribute to the fallen Guardsmen. “We are grateful for their service and deeply mourn their loss,” she said in a statement.
The fatal incident also claimed the life of a U.S. civilian interpreter and left three additional Iowa National Guard members wounded. According to the Iowa National Guard, two of the injured are currently in stable condition, while the third is listed in good condition.
The attack occurred Saturday in the Syrian desert near the ancient city of Palmyra and has become a critical moment in the recently improved relations between the United States and Syria. Since the ouster of former Syrian president Bashar Assad a year ago, the U.S. has been increasing its military and intelligence cooperation with the new Syrian leadership.
Hundreds of American troops remain stationed in eastern Syria as part of the ongoing coalition campaign against Islamic State remnants. The incident raises significant concerns over the security of these joint operations, especially as the U.S. expands its coordination with Syrian forces.
The gunman involved in Saturday’s shooting was reportedly a recent recruit in Syria’s internal security forces. According to Nour al-Din al-Baba, a spokesperson for Syria’s Interior Ministry, the assailant joined as a base guard just two months ago but had recently been reassigned after concerns arose about his potential ties to IS.
The attacker stormed a lunch meeting between U.S. and Syrian security officials and opened fire after clashing with Syrian guards.
The Syrian government has admitted that the shooting was a “major security breach”, with al-Baba acknowledging failures but emphasizing that overall security performance has improved since the fall of Assad.
“This incident is tragic, but in the year since Assad’s fall, there have been many more successes than failures,” al-Baba said.
The Pentagon has launched a formal investigation into the attack, though military officials have already attributed the act to a member of the Islamic State group. The broader context of the assault underscores the challenges of transitioning Syria into a stable partner in regional counterterrorism efforts.
President Donald Trump, addressing the attack over the weekend, called it “a grave and unforgivable act.” He promised “very serious retaliation”, signaling that the U.S. may take swift and forceful military action in response.
Trump also noted that Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was deeply affected by the incident and reaffirmed the U.S.-Syria alliance. “President al-Sharaa is devastated by what happened,” Trump stated. “Syria stands beside us in this fight.”
Al-Sharaa, who led the uprising that deposed Assad, was welcomed to the White House last month in a landmark diplomatic meeting — a clear sign of warming ties between Washington and Damascus.
The weekend attack has placed a spotlight on the dangers U.S. personnel face in conflict zones like Syria, where alliances are fragile, and the threat of insurgent violence persists. As investigations continue and tensions rise, the deaths of Sgt. Torres-Tovar and Sgt. Howard stand as somber reminders of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of international security.
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