Dec. 15 (UPI) — The U.S. Army on Monday identified two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed in an ambush by a lone gunman in Syria.
Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, died Saturday in
They were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve in support of ongoing counter-ISIS and counterterrorism efforts in the region.
They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division of the Iowa National Guard in Boone.
Also killed was a civilian interpreter, whose identity hasn’t been announced but is not from Iowa. And three unidentified soldiers and two Syrians were shot.
Family members had been earlier informed.
«Today, we honor the memory and sacrifice of Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Torres-Tovar by sharing their names with a grateful state and nation,» Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn said in a news release Monday sent to UPI.
«They were dedicated professionals and cherished members of our Guard family who represented the best of Iowa.
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.»
Before the names were released, Meskwaki Nation Police Chief Jeffrey Bunn wrote in a Facebook post that his stepson, who went by Nate, was one of the soldiers killed.
In the post, Bunn said Howard is survived by his wife, Arianna.
On Monday, Gov. Kim Reynolds said flags will be at half-staff until the final day of internment on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex.
Flags will also be at half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.
«Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Torres-Tovar served our state and nation with honor, and in doing so, gave the ultimate sacrifice. We are grateful for their service and deeply mourn their loss,» Reynolds said.
«Kevin and I offer our prayers and condolences to their families and ask that Iowans stand united in support of them during this difficult time.»
On Saturday night at a news conference, Reynolds said she was in contact with families of the two slain soldiers.
«Earlier, I had the opportunity to reach out to the families of the two soldiers who were killed, and as you can imagine, they are devastated,» Reynolds said.
Early Saturday in Syria, a lone Islamic State gunman attacked Iowa National Guard soldiers participating in a key leader engagement, Osborne said.
After the ambush, U.S. and partner Syrian forces killed the attacker, Osborn said.
One soldier was evacuated back to the base for treatment of wounds described as «superficial.»
He said the other two soldiers’ injuries were «significant,» and they were evacuated to a military hospital at an air base in Jordan.
«They are stable in critical condition, but both stable and both have made progress throughout the day,» Osborn said.
Roughly 1,900 Iowa Army National Guard soldiers have been deployed to the Middle East since the summer, Osborn said. Of those, about 200 to 250 are currently in Syria.
«Our soldiers were doing their job, serving with courage, dedication and professionalism,» Osborn said.
«They carried out their mission to the best of their ability and we are proud of their incredible service and sacrifice, and we will continue to stand strong as a team united in the purpose and resolve of their mission.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday that there will be a «very serious retaliation» in response to the attack.
«We mourn the loss of three great American patriots in Syria,» Trump said.
«The savage who perpetrated this attack was killed by partner forces,» Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in a post on X.
«Let it be known, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you and ruthlessly kill you.»
The American deaths are the first since former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad was removed from power last year, The New York Times reported, noting that the United States has been reducing its forces there since his departure.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa «is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack,» Trump said.
In 2025, ISIS captured Palmyra in 2015, holding it for about 10 months, but by 2018, the group was left with no territory, but has continued to carry out attacks, according to Al-Jazeera.
