LINDSEY REISER:
00:00:00
This is a live look at Dover Air Force base in Delaware, where President Trump is on hand as the bodies of two National Guardsmen and their translator killed in Syria are brought back to this country. There is no audio on this feed, but we're going to go ahead and watch a little bit of it. We have been watching the dignified transfer of the National Guardsmen and a civilian interpreter who were gunned down in what officials are calling an ambush attack in Syria. The first transfer case that we saw was of the remains of Sergeant William Howard. Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar is also in a transfer case, as well as a civilian interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat. Now, Sergeant Howard and Sergeant Torres-Tovar are part of the National Guard out of Iowa. We know that the president, as we see there, met with their families ahead of this, and we know that the chief of staff of the Army, General Randy George, is there, as well as Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa. Now, this is a very solemn occasion. It is meant to honor those who have sacrificed their lives in the service of the country. The remains of the fallen military members are transferred from the aircraft to an awaiting vehicle here at the base, and the remains are then transferred to a mortuary facility at the Air Force mortuary affairs operations at Dover Air Force Base. You see the completion of that transfer in that waiting vehicle there. The Guardsmen and civilian interpreter were killed in a shooting that happened during a mission by US and Syrian forces near Palmyra on Saturday. Two members of Syria's security force were also wounded. As we see the procession go behind the vehicles, we also saw Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, among other dignitaries present. The shooter who ambushed the US and Syrian troops is believed to have been an Islamic State infiltrator working as part of a local security force, per multiple sources who told CBS News. US Central Command said in a statement that the gunman was engaged and killed, and the president on Saturday vowed the US would retaliate. It is now 3 o'clock here on the East Coast. For those who are just joining us, we have been watching a dignified transfer for the three members of the United States Army who were killed in an ambush-style attack in Syria over the weekend, two National Guardsmen and a civilian interpreter. This is video from moments ago. You can see the president there and the defense secretary to his left during this very solemn occasion. And again, this is one of those transfers, transfer case here at Dover Air Force Base. The president had met with the family members prior to this very solemn, dignified transfer. And we know that Senator Chuck Grassley also on hand here for this solemn event. Again, just to reiterate for anybody who's just joining us, this is not a ceremony. These transfer cases are not coffins. These are transfer cases. This is a very significant moment to honor the sacrifice that they made for their country. The president is going to be addressing the nation tonight in a prime-time address covering the economy. Also, obviously, though, this is his priority right now this afternoon.
