Watch: Pres. Trump, War Sec Hegseth Honor Americans Slain in Syria at Dignified Transfer Ceremony

President Donald Trump and Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth saluted the slain Americans, including two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter, killed in an ISIS terrorist attack in Syria, as the administration honored them during a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

In a series of clips posted on X on Wednesday, President Trump stepped off Air Force One and saluted the soldiers who greeted him. before taking turns to shake every one of their hands.

President Trump arrives at Dover Air Force Base to honor the fallen 🙏 pic.twitter.com/H6BPpNlgqb
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) December 17, 2025

MORE: Syrian Attacker Was Recent Recruit, Suspected of ISIS Ties

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth then did the same before the two men took part in the ceremony, where they witnessed the dignified transfer of the great American patriots killed in Syria.

.@POTUS and @SecWar arrive at Dover Air Force Base, where they'll soon witness the dignified transfer of the three great American Patriots killed in Syria 🙏 pic.twitter.com/k0qDTpeTMF
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 17, 2025

In one of the clips, we see Trump lined up with other members of the military, as they bowed their heads ahead of the arrival of the coffins carrying the bodies of two U.S. soldiers and one fallen civilian interpreter from Syria.

📍 Dover Air Force Base@POTUS arrives for the dignified transfer of the three American patriots killed in Syria 🙏 pic.twitter.com/fF27mj75Ct
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 17, 2025

🚨NOW: POTUS and Pete Hegseth are attending the dignified transfer of slain U.S. soldiers, along with a fallen civilian interpreter from Syria.

God Bless Our Troops. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/VHho5dnKzO
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 17, 2025

📍 Dover Air Force Base@POTUS arrives for the dignified transfer of the three American patriots killed in Syria 🙏 pic.twitter.com/fF27mj75Ct
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 17, 2025

🚨 NOW: The bodies of two U.S. servicemembers and one civilian interpreter have finally made it back to American soil from Syria

They are:
- Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, lowa
- Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, lowa
- Ayad Mansoor Sakat,… pic.twitter.com/gvLQRG1yua
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 17, 2025

They are:
- Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, lowa
- Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, lowa
- Ayad Mansoor Sakat, 54, a U.S. cilian [sic] interpreter from Macomb, Michigan
Rest in peace, patriots 🫡

At one point, a large group of soldiers boarded the back of a plane parked on the tarmac, and when they exited, they were carrying coffins draped with American flags.

Rest in Peace, Heroes. 🙏🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Gb73qEQyNl
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) December 17, 2025

The bodies of the slain soldiers were carried past Trump, Hegseth, other dignitaries, and family members, as the group saluted the fallen patriots.

May God bless the memory of these fallen American Patriots 🙏🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Q9qzRmgiUt
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) December 17, 2025

One by one, each casket was carried to a waiting vehicle.

SEE: 'Terrible': Trump Speaks About US Troops Killed, Wounded in Syria 'Ambush,' What Comes Next

As RedState reported over the weekend, two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed, along with three others injured in an ambush attack in Syria.

A statement on X released by Sean Parnell, chief spokesman for the Pentagon, read:

Today in Palmyra, Syria, two United States Army soldiers and one civilian U.S. interpreter were killed, and three were wounded.
The attack occurred as the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement. Their mission was in support of ongoing counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism operations in the region.
The soldiers’ names, as well as identifying information about their units, are being withheld until 24 hours after the next of kin notification.
This attack is currently under active investigation.

Later, RedState reported that the man suspected of the attack was a “recent recruit to Syria's security forces and had been reassigned due to suspected ties to the Islamic State.”

Noticeably absent during the dignified transfer ceremony was anyone checking their watch multiple times, as former President Joe Biden did during the arrival of 13 U.S. service members killed in the devastating withdrawal of troops in Afghanistan in 2021.

First Lady Melania Trump was also there to participate in the ceremony (you can watch the full event below):

🚨LIVE: President Trump and First Lady Melania Participate in a Dignified Transfer Ceremony - 12/17/25 https://t.co/UgCpzyl6nH
— James Rossi 🇺🇸 (@realjamesrossi) December 17, 2025

Editor’s Note: Do you enjoy RedState’s conservative reporting that takes on the radical left and woke media? Support our work so that we can continue to bring you the truth.

Join RedState VIP and use the promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership!