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Iowa Soldiers Killed in ISIS Ambush; Retaliation Promised

12/16/2025

38 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Two Iowa National Guard soldiers, Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, were killed in an Islamic State ambush in Palmyra, Syria.
A civilian interpreter was killed.
Three other soldiers were injured, two in stable condition.
Flags in Iowa will be flown at half-staff as U.S. President Donald Trump vows "very serious retaliation" and says the attack was not the fault of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

History

Historical Context

The Islamic State's territorial losses in Iraq and Syria intensified violence, culminating in the 2017 ambush that killed two Iowa National Guard soldiers. By 2020, over 1,000 American casualties were reported in the fight against ISIS, highlighting the ongoing risks for U.S. military personnel in unstable regions like Syria, where IS continues to launch attacks against pro-government forces.

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Story summary

Two Iowa National Guard soldiers, Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, were killed in an Islamic State ambush in Palmyra, Syria.
A civilian interpreter was killed.
Three other soldiers were injured, two in stable condition.
Flags in Iowa will be flown at half-staff as U.S. President Donald Trump vows "very serious retaliation" and says the attack was not the fault of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

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