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Two US Soldiers Killed in Syria Identified

2025-12-15

The BareStory

Two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in an attack near Palmyra, Syria, on Saturday, December 13. The Army has identified the deceased soldiers as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29. Both were members of the Iowa National Guard’s 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment. Three other U.S. service members were wounded in the incident, which occurred while the soldiers were participating in a meeting with local partners as part of counter-ISIS operations.

The Pentagon stated an ISIS gunman was responsible for the ambush. The Secretary of War and the Pentagon confirmed the attacker was killed. In a separate statement, President Donald Trump told reporters the perpetrator had been captured. The Army confirmed the incident is under investigation. According to Syria’s Ministry of Interior, a security operation coordinated with coalition forces resulted in the arrest of five suspects.

President Trump vowed "very serious retaliation" and described the deceased as "great patriots." Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated the U.S. would avenge the deaths with "overwhelming force." In Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds ordered flags to be flown at half-staff and issued a statement honoring the soldiers' sacrifice.

The soldiers were deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. A Pentagon official noted that approximately 1,000 U.S. forces are currently in Syria for the counter-ISIS mission. Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn, the Iowa National Guard's adjutant general, said the organization’s focus is on supporting the soldiers’ families.

Left Perspective

  • Top officials promised a forceful military response to the attack.
  • The deceased soldiers were honored as patriots for their sacrifice.
  • The attack occurred within the context of the ongoing counter-ISIS mission.

Right Perspective

  • U.S. officials gave conflicting reports about the attacker's fate.
  • Syrian authorities reported the arrest of multiple suspects.
  • The incident is officially under investigation by the U.S. military.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• Increased U.S. military action in Syria is possible, as officials have vowed "very serious retaliation" and the use of "overwhelming force" in response.

• The attack may prompt a re-evaluation of the U.S. counter-ISIS mission, potentially affecting the deployment of the approximately 1,000 service members currently in Syria.

• Conflicting reports from U.S. and Syrian officials about the attacker’s fate may create public uncertainty regarding the details of overseas military operations.

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