Overview
- Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, were killed Dec. 13 during a key leader engagement near Palmyra in support of counter-ISIS operations.
- A U.S. civilian interpreter was also killed, identified by family as Ayad Sakat, and three American soldiers were wounded.
- U.S. officials described the assailant as a lone ISIS gunman who was killed by partner forces after the ambush.
- Syria’s Interior Ministry said the attacker had worked in local security forces, was recently reassigned, and had been evaluated for extremist views; officials reported five related arrests in Palmyra.
- President Donald Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed a forceful response, while Iowa ordered flags to half-staff and the Army said the incident remains under investigation.