TWO IOWA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS AND ONE U.S. CIVILIAN WERE KILLED AND THREE OTHERS WERE INJURED IN AN ENEMY ATTACK SATURDAY, DECEMBER. 13, IN PALMYRA, SYRIA.
THE ATTACK OCCURRED WHILE THE SOLDIERS WERE CONDUCTING A KEY LEADER ENGAGEMENT AS PART OF THEIR ASSIGNED MISSION IN THE ONGOING COUNTER-ISIS AND COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS IN THE REGION.
THE NAMES OF THE DECEASED SOLDIERS ARE BEING WITHHELD UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER NEXT-OF-KIN NOTIFICATIONS ARE COMPLETE.
MAJOR GENERAL STEPHEN OSBORN, ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE IOWA NATIONAL GUARD. SAYS THEIR PRIORITY RIGHT NOW IS SUPPORTING THE FAMILIES OF OUR FALLEN AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS.
GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS ASKS ALL IOWANS STAND UNITED IN SUPPORTING THEM AND LIFTING THEM UP IN PRAYER DURING THIS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TIME.
SHE SAYS TO PLEASE PRAY ALSO FOR THE FAST AND FULL RECOVERY OF OUR WOUNDED SOLDIERS.
APPROXIMATELY 1800 IOWA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS FROM THE 2ND BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM, 34TH INFANTRY DIVISION, BEGAN DEPLOYING TO THE MIDDLE EAST IN LATE MAY IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE, THE U.S. MISSION TO ADVISE, ASSIST, AND ENABLE PARTNER FORCES IN THE ENDURING DEFEAT OF ISIS.
