Slain U.S. Soldiers in Syria Identified as Heroes, Trump Vows Retaliation Against ISIS
Two American soldiers killed in Syria during a brutal ambush on Saturday have been identified as Sgt. Nate Howard and Sgt. Edgar Torres, both members of the Iowa National Guard. The attack, which also claimed the life of an American interpreter, was carried out by a member of the Syrian security forces with suspected ties to ISIS.
The ambush occurred while U.S. and Syrian troops were conducting a joint mission in the Syrian desert. As they gathered for a routine meeting and lunch, the attacker slipped into the building and opened fire — killing Howard, Torres, and interpreter Ayad Sakat before being taken down by return fire.
Family Man, Warrior, Patriot
Nate Howard’s stepfather, Meskwaki Nation Police Chief Jeffrey Bunn, confirmed his death in a heartbreaking public message Saturday night.
“My wife Misty and I had that visit from Army Commanders you never want to have,” Bunn wrote. “Our son Nate was one of the Soldiers that paid the ultimate sacrifice for all of us, to keep us all safer.”
Howard leaves behind his wife Arianna, and was remembered as a devoted husband, a man of faith, and a fierce protector of his fellow soldiers. His own younger brother, Staff Sgt. James Roelsgard — currently deployed in the region — will escort his body home.
“He was the first in and last out, no one left behind,” Bunn said.
Sgt. Edgar Torres, also killed in the attack, was remembered as a “very positive soldier” and a loving family man. The Iowa National Guard noted both soldiers were on assignment supporting counterterrorism and anti-ISIS operations — missions that are now under even more scrutiny.
Attacker Linked to ISIS, Days from Dismissal
According to reports from Syrian officials, the shooter was a member of Syria’s security forces who had been under investigation for his radical beliefs. The New York Times reported that the man was scheduled to be dismissed the next day due to extremist views and concerns he was leaking intelligence to ISIS.
The gunman had previously been reassigned within the Syrian ranks but still managed to embed himself close enough to U.S. personnel to carry out the deadly ambush — a clear breakdown in screening and a stark reminder that threats remain inside allied operations.
Trump Blames ISIS, Promises Response
President Donald Trump addressed the tragedy directly, calling it “an ISIS attack against the U.S.” and promising retaliation. “We mourn the loss of three great patriots in Syria — you know how it happened, an ambush,” he said.
Trump made it clear the attack will not go unanswered.
“We pray for them, and their parents, and their loved ones, very, very sad … and we WILL retaliate,” he said, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to rooting out ISIS sleeper cells and holding allies accountable for internal failures.
A Complex Alliance Under Pressure
The Syrian government, now led by Ahmed al-Sharaa — a man who once led a U.S.-designated terrorist organization — is working with the U.S. to stabilize the region after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. Al-Sharaa reportedly expressed personal devastation over the attack.
Trump met with al-Sharaa in the Oval Office last month to discuss securing Syria’s future and ensuring the defeat of all remaining terrorist elements. That meeting was widely criticized by establishment figures, but supporters of the America First movement saw it as a necessary step toward ending endless war and keeping America safe without new deployments.
Now, with American lives lost under the nose of a supposed partner, that alliance faces new questions. As Trump pushes forward, one thing is certain: justice for these fallen soldiers will be swift, and America will not turn a blind eye to betrayal on the battlefield.