Trump pays respects to 2 Iowa National Guardsmen and interpreter killed in Syria as they return home

[Right_in_Virginia]

Trump pays respects to 2 Iowa National Guardsmen and interpreter killed in Syria as they return home
Associated Press, Dec 18, 2025



DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AP) — President Donald Trump paid his respects Wednesday to two Iowa National Guard members and a U.S. civilian interpreter who were killed in an attack in the Syrian desert, joining their grieving families as their remains were brought back to the country they served.

Trump met privately with the families at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware before he joined top military officials and other dignitaries on the tarmac for the dignified transfer, a solemn and largely silent ritual honoring U.S. service members killed in action.

The guardsmen killed in Syria on Saturday were Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, according to the U.S. Army. Both were members of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, and have been hailed as heroes by the Iowa National Guard. Their remains will be taken to Iowa.

Ayad Mansoor Sakat, of Macomb, Michigan, a U.S. civilian working as an interpreter, was also killed. He will be laid to rest in Michigan this weekend.

The families of all three victims were at Dover for the return of their remains, alongside Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, members of Iowa’s congressional delegation and leaders of the Iowa National Guard.


https://apnews.com/article/trump-united-states-syria-troops-dover-06bc3fd83167c56b5db4be583987c4c9

[Right_in_Virginia]

[Right_in_Virginia]

Melania Suddenly Ditches Plan to Salute Fallen Heroes
Dec 17, 2025

First Lady Melania Trump mysteriously pulled out of a ceremony honoring fallen U.S. soldiers killed during an ISIS ambush in Syria last week.

The elusive First Lady had been scheduled to attend the dignified transfer ceremony with President Donald Trump to receive the bodies of the American soldiers and a civilian interpreter on Wednesday.

But while the president travelled to Dover Air Force base in Delaware to pay his respects—Melania Trump was nowhere to be seen.

A White House official confirmed to the Daily Beast that the first lady had pulled out of the ceremony at the last minute but declined to explain why.

The ceremony was held to honor Iowa National Guard soldiers Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, and William Nathaniel Howard, 29.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/melania-suddenly-ditches-plan-to-salute-fallen-heroes/