U.S. Army identifies Iowa Guard soldiers killed in Syria

DES MOINES — Two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed Saturday during an attack in Syria were identified Monday by the U.S. Army as Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown; and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines.

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Howard and Torres-Tovar were killed Saturday when a lone attacker, believed to be linked to the Islamic State terrorist group, opened fire near a military post in central Syria, according to U.S. officials. A U.S. civilian interpreter also was killed in the attack. Three additional Iowa Guard members were injured.

Both Iowa soldiers were members of the Iowa National Guard’s 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, which is supporting U.S. military operations against IS in the Middle East.

“Today, we honor the memory and sacrifice of Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Torres-Tovar by sharing their names with a grateful state and nation,” Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn said Monday in a press release.

“They were dedicated professionals and cherished members of our Guard family who represented the best of Iowa,” Osborn said. “Our focus now is providing unwavering support to their families through this unimaginable time and ensuring the legacy of these two heroes is never forgotten.”

The three Iowa Guard soldiers injured in the attack will remain unnamed per U.S. Department of War policy. Two of the soldiers required medical attention and are in stable condition, the Guard said in Monday’s press release. The third soldier was treated and is in good condition, according to the Guard.

The soldiers were ambushed during a “key leader engagement” in the city of Palmyra as part of their assigned mission in ongoing counterterrorism efforts in the region, the Guard has said. The attacker was killed during the incident, and the investigation remains ongoing, according to U.S. military officials.

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The attack marked the deadliest assault on U.S. forces in Syria in more than a year and occurred on the 389th anniversary of the National Guard’s founding.

Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday ordered all flags in Iowa to fly half-staff effective immediately until sunset on the final day of interment in honor of Howard and Torres Tovar.

“Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Torres-Tovar served our state and nation with honor, and in doing so, gave the ultimate sacrifice. We are grateful for their service and deeply mourn their loss,” Reynolds said Monday in a press release. “Kevin and I offer our prayers and condolences to their families and ask that Iowans stand united in support of them during this difficult time.”

Meskwaki Nation Police Department Chief Jeffrey Bunn confirmed in a social media post on Sunday that his son, Nate Howard, was one of the soldiers killed.

About 1,800 Iowa National Guard soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, began deploying to the Middle East last summer in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, part of the U.S. mission to advise, assist and enable partner forces in the enduring defeat of ISIS.

Although ISIS was defeated on the battlefield in 2019, U.S. officials and the United Nations say the group maintains sleeper cells capable of carrying out deadly attacks. The United Nations says the group still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq, the Associated Press reported.

Iowa National Guard spokesperson Jackie Schmillen said Guard soldiers are serving as part of a rotational deployment to the Middle East that has been ongoing for the past eight years, with different National Guard states and active-duty units consistently taking part in fulfilling the mission.

“Our Soldiers are contributing to this mission by joining coalition forces to provide security, support partner nations, and assist efforts to maintain stability in the region,” Schmillen said in a statement.

President Donald Trump has pledged retaliation, calling the attack an act of terrorism by the Islamic State group.

Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton contributed to this report.

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