Key facts
- President Donald Trump will attend the dignified transfer of four U.S. service members killed in the Middle East.
- The ceremony will take place at Dover Air Force Base.
- Two soldiers were killed in Iranian missile and drone attacks in Jordan.
- A third service member, believed missing after the Jordan attacks, is now presumed deceased.
- A fourth soldier was killed in Iraq during the detonation of an Iranian drone.
- Trump stated the U.S. is striking Iran in honor of the fallen troops.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend the dignified transfer of four U.S. service members who were killed in the Middle East. The ceremony, a solemn duty for the commander-in-chief, will take place at Dover Air Force Base.
Two of the service members, U.S. Army soldiers Tyler James Feehan and Isabella Gonzales, were killed in Iranian missile and drone attacks in Jordan. The remains of a third service member, Sergeant Angel S. Rampersad, who was believed to be missing after the Jordan attacks, will also be returned. Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton was killed in Iraq during the detonation of an Iranian drone.
Trump stated that the U.S. is striking Iran "in honor" of the fallen troops and that Iran will "pay for that killing many times over." He also commented that while most incoming fire in Jordan was stopped, some projectiles made it through, suggesting that if "other operators" were not involved, it might not have happened.
Since the war began on February 28, 18 U.S. service members have been killed. Trump has attended two previous dignified transfers during his presidency.