President Donald Trump and Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth attended a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base to honor two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter killed in an ISIS attack in Syria, saluting the fallen and meeting with military personnel and families during the solemn ceremony.
President Trump stepped off Air Force One and personally saluted the troops who greeted him, taking time to shake the hands of those in uniform as the fallen were brought home. The moment was captured in a series of clips posted on X showing the president engaging directly with service members before the formal transfer began.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth followed the same protocol and joined President Trump during the ceremony, standing with other dignitaries as the coffins arrived. The transfer at Dover is a longstanding military custom that gives families and the nation a moment to honor those who paid the ultimate price.
In footage from the event, President Trump and military leaders bowed their heads as the coffins carrying two soldiers and a civilian interpreter touched down. The caskets, draped with American flags, were carried solemnly by service members and moved past the assembled officials and family members.
They are:
– Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, lowa
– Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, lowa
– Ayad Mansoor Sakat, 54, a U.S. cilian [sic] interpreter from Macomb, Michigan
Rest in peace, patriots š«”
A group of soldiers was filmed loading onto a transport aircraft and exiting while carrying the flag-draped coffins, a stark reminder of the risk American forces face overseas. The procession moved with precision and respect, and the families present watched as their loved ones were honored in uniformed formation.
Each casket was carried past President Trump, Hegseth, and other officials, who rendered salutes as the fallen were escorted to waiting vehicles. The ceremony allowed mourners and the nation to pause and recognize the sacrifice made by those who were killed in the line of duty.
Officials stated the attack occurred in Palmyra during a key leader engagement involving U.S. troops supporting counter-ISIS and counter-terrorism efforts in the region. A Pentagon statement released by Sean Parnell, chief spokesman for the Pentagon, confirmed two soldiers and one civilian interpreter were killed and three others wounded, and that the incident remains under investigation.
Today in Palmyra, Syria, two United States Army soldiers and one civilian U.S. interpreter were killed, and three were wounded.
The attack occurred as the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement. Their mission was in support of ongoing counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism operations in the region.
The soldiersā names, as well as identifying information about their units, are being withheld until 24 hours after the next of kin notification.Ā
This attack is currently under active investigation.
Reports indicate the suspected attacker may have had recent ties to local security forces and was reportedly reassigned amid concerns about extremist connections. That detail is part of an ongoing inquiry into how the attacker gained access and whether intelligence or vetting processes failed.
Observers noted a contrast between this ceremony and past arrivals where a different president was seen checking his watch multiple times during a dignified transfer, a detail that commentators highlighted as a difference in demeanor. First Lady Melania Trump was also present and participated in honoring the fallen during the ceremony.
The transfer at Dover is designed to provide a controlled, respectful return of service members to their families and to the country. Moments like these underscore the dangers faced by Americans serving abroad and reinforce the solemn duty of government and military leaders to honor those sacrifices.
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