SerpApi.Org
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday attended the dignified transfer of four American service members killed in the Iran war. The flag-draped caskets arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Trump stood in salute as military honour guards carried the remains from the aircraft.
Trump, dressed in a blue suit and red tie, stood at attention near the flight line as military honour guards carried each transfer case from the aircraft. Family members watched quietly from nearby while the remains were placed into waiting transport vans.
"We're going to honour them. For me, it's one of the hardest things to do as a president. But it has to be done," Trump told reporters before leaving for the ceremony.
The war with Iran has claimed the lives of 18 US service members and injured over 500 more. It has also cost American taxpayers at least $37.5 billion. The conflict has pushed up global oil prices, driven fuel costs higher and triggered growing political debate in Washington over its objectives, as it shows no signs of ending.
As per Reuters, three of the fallen troops were killed when an Iranian missile struck their sleeping quarters at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan last Friday.
They were identified as First Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25; Sergeant Angel S. Rampersad, 28; and Private Isabella Gonzales, 19. All three served in US Army air defence brigades.
The fourth service member, Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, died on Sunday in Erbil, Iraq, during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian attack drone.
The ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, home to the United States' largest military mortuary, followed a long-standing tradition in which presidents and senior officials pay tribute to troops killed in combat.
Before departing for Delaware, Trump said he planned to offer comfort to the families of the fallen soldiers.
"All I'm going to say is, we love you. We love your child, and that's what they are to them. They're their children. There's no games, no nothing," he said.
The US President also repeated his warning that Iran would face consequences for attacks on American forces.
Trump has recently threatened further military action against Tehran following attacks on US troops and commercial shipping in the region.
WAR FACES GROWING SCRUTINY
This lands as criticism of the war grows on both sides of the political aisle.
According to Reuters, lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties have questioned the objectives of the conflict, which began in February and has shown little sign of ending.
The fighting has also pushed global oil prices higher and added to inflationary pressures. Rising fuel prices have become a growing political concern for the White House ahead of the November midterm elections.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted this month found that four in five Americans expect the conflict to continue for an extended period. The survey also showed that 37 per cent of respondents approved of US military strikes on Iran.
Trump, however, dismissed suggestions that public support for the war had weakened.
"Americans aren't against the war," he said. "A poll just came out. Americans don't want to have gasoline prices, but they're not against the war. That just came out loud and clear in a poll. Nobody wants Iran to have a nuclear weapon. You want Iran to have a nuclear weapon? You think it's good?"
CASUALTIES CONTINUE TO MOUNT
As per Reuters, a US official speaking on condition of anonymity said the number of American troops injured during the conflict has now climbed to well over 500.
The Pentagon had said earlier this week that at least 100 service members had been injured since July 7, with 96 per cent returning to duty after treatment.
The latest casualties have intensified calls for a clearer path forward, even as the administration maintains pressure on Iran. House Speaker Mike Johnson has urged a immediate resolution to the conflict, while Trump has continued to insist that Tehran will "pay a big price" for attacks on US personnel.
