In brief
Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard from Iowa National Guard were killed in an attack in Syria attributed to ISIS. The incident highlights ongoing security challenges in the region as the U.S. military cooperates with Syrian forces in countering threats. Iowa's Governor has expressed grief over the loss, and investigations are underway to understand the breach that led to the attack.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The two Iowa National Guard members killed in a weekend attack attributed to the Islamic State group in Syria were identified on Monday.
The U.S. Army named them as 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 Iowa to be flown at half staff in their honor, stating, We are grateful for their service and deeply mourn their loss.
The Pentagon's chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, also confirmed the death of a civilian working as a U.S. interpreter, along with injuries to three other Guard members, two of whom are in stable condition and one in good condition.
This attack poses a significant test for the U.S.-Syria relationship since the ousting of leader Bashar Assad a year ago, particularly as the U.S. military increases its operational cooperation with Syrian security forces. Hundreds of American troops continue to be deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition effort against the Islamic State.
The shooting occurred in the Syrian desert near the historical city of Palmyra, resulting in casualties among Syrian security forces, with the gunman also killed. Reports indicate that the attacker had recently joined the Syrian internal security forces and was reassigned amidst suspicions of his potential affiliations with ISIS.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba acknowledged the incident as a major security breach, yet pointed out that there have been more successes than failures in the security forces' performance over the last year.
In response, military officials are investigating the incident, which has been endorsed as connected to an IS member. President Trump has actively warned of severe retaliation following the attack, asserting Syria's commitment to combating threats alongside U.S. troops.
