Army identifies two American soldiers killed in attack in Syria

The Army connected Monday identified the 2 American soldiers who were killed successful Palmyra, Syria, implicit the play arsenic Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa. Both were members of the Iowa National Guard. 

A civilian interpreter was besides killed successful the attack. The Pentagon said an ISIS gunman ambushed the 2 guardsmen and the interpreter successful Saturday's attack.

In a statement, Iowa's Governor Kim Reynolds wrote, "Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Torrestovar served our authorities and federation with honor, and successful doing so, gave the eventual sacrifice. We are grateful for their work and profoundly mourn their loss." 

Reynolds ordered flags crossed Iowa to instantly beryllium flown astatine half-staff until sunset connected the time of their funerals. 

Tovar, Howard, and the interpreter were killed portion they were supporting a "key person engagement" arsenic portion of the counter-ISIS mission, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. Three U.S. work members were injured successful the attack, and the gunman was killed. 

A Pentagon authoritative says the U.S. presently has astir 1,000 U.S. forces successful Syria to antagonistic ISIS. 

In a societal media station aft the attack, President Trump vowed "very superior retaliation." 

In remarks to reporters earlier leaving the White House for the Army-Navy shot crippled Saturday, Trump said, "We mourn the nonaccomplishment of 3 large patriots successful Syria. You cognize however it happened — it was an ambush, terrible. We besides person 3 wounded. They look to beryllium doing beauteous well, but we mourn the loss." 

These are the archetypal U.S. unit deaths successful Syria since the autumn of President Bashar Al Assad past year. President Trump said Syria's caller president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is "devastated by what happened - this was an ISIS onslaught connected america and Syria."