Reynolds says the soldiers were part of an Iowa Army National Guard unit headquartered in Boone, but their names will not be released until Sunday evening. Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Stephen Osborne says one of the Iowans injured had superficial wounds and is being treated at a military base in Syria. “The other two injuries were significant,” Osborn said. “Those two individuals are in a hospital in Aman, Jordan, at the Jordanian air base. They are stable — in critical condition, but both stable.” Osborn says the gunman was killed by U.S. and Syrian forces in the area. “At the time of the attack, US personnel were conducting a key leader engagement,” Osborne said. “Their mission was in support of ongoing counter-ISIS and counter terrorism efforts in the region and this incident remains under investigation.”

About 18-hundred Iowa National Guard soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division began deploying to the Middle East in late May, 2025 are deployed to the Mideast in June and about 250 are in Syria right now. “We will continue to stand strong as a team, united in the purpose and resolve of their mission,” Osborn said. “At this time our foremost priority is our people: our fallen service members’ families and loved one, our injured service members and their families, and our fellow teammates.” The civilian who was killed was an American contractor serving as an interpreter. President Trump says there will be very serious retaliation for the ambush, which he says happened in a very dangerous part of Syria that’s not under the control of Syria’s new government.