Honoring the Fallen: Two U.S. Soldiers Lost in Syria Attack
Two U.S. Army soldiers from Iowa’s National Guard were killed in an attack by suspected ISIS-affiliated terrorists near Palmyra, Syria on December 13th. The Department of War identified the fallen as Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Grimes, Iowa, and Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa. Both men served with the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment as part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division in support of Operation Inherent Resolve – the U.S.-led mission against ISIS in the region. The loss of these soldiers has prompted a wave of grief, tributes, and promises of retribution from military leadership and government officials.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called for national prayers for the fallen soldiers while simultaneously vowing a strong military response. “Please join me in prayer today for the souls of our brave Army Soldiers,” Hegseth said in his statement, extending condolences to their families during this unimaginable time of grief. His message balanced compassion with resolve, concluding with the promise that “The United States of America will avenge these fallen Americans with overwhelming force.” This dual message reflects the complexity of responding to such incidents – honoring the human cost while maintaining military determination.
The attack occurred during what military officials described as a “key leader engagement with local partners” – essentially a meeting with local allies as part of ongoing counter-terrorism operations. Three additional Iowa National Guard soldiers were also wounded in the attack, with two requiring medical evacuation, though they are reported to be in stable condition. A civilian interpreter was also present during the ambush. Initial military assessments suggest the gunman was likely affiliated with ISIS but operating outside areas controlled by interim Syrian authorities, highlighting the persistent threat posed by fragmented terrorist cells even after the territorial defeat of ISIS in the region.
The human dimension of this tragedy was powerfully illustrated through personal tributes. Meskwaki Nation Police Chief Jeffrey Bunn identified one of the fallen as his son, Sergeant Howard, describing him in an emotional social media post as a dedicated serviceman who “would be the first in and last out.” His simple plea – “Please pray for our Soldiers all around this cruel world” – and promise to his son – “We will see you again son, until then we have it from here” – capture the profound personal loss behind military casualties. Major General Stephen Osborn, adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard, similarly emphasized the human aspect, calling the fallen soldiers “dedicated professionals and cherished members of our Guard family who represented the best of Iowa.”
The incident has prompted official responses at multiple levels of government. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in the state lowered to half-staff to honor the fallen soldiers, urging Iowans to “stand united in support” of the grieving families. This state-level recognition complements the national attention drawn to the attack, including acknowledgment from military leadership and the Department of War. The formal identification and recognition of fallen service members follows established protocols that balance the public’s right to know with respect for families’ privacy and time to grieve – notably, the wounded soldiers’ names remain withheld under Department of War policy.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of ongoing U.S. military presence in Syria, where American forces continue limited operations primarily focused on preventing the resurgence of ISIS. The attack underscores the persistent dangers faced by deployed service members even in operations that receive relatively little public attention compared to higher-profile conflicts. For the families of Torres Tovar and Howard, however, this was not a distant foreign policy matter but a deeply personal tragedy that forever changed their lives. As military officials work to investigate the attack and potentially respond with force as promised, these two soldiers join the ranks of Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the nation’s longest period of continuous military operations abroad.
