President Donald Trump visited Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday to honor six U.S. service members who died in a KC-135 refueling aircraft crash in western Iraq, during operations related to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.
Lip reader Nicola Hickling reported that, upon descending from Air Force One, Trump spoke to an officer, saying, “You are doing them proud. How are you doing… thank you for being here. I’m sorry we have to meet under such circumstances.” He then continued greeting officers, shaking hands, and offering a brief apology before attending the private ceremony.
At the base, Trump was met on the tarmac by Col. Jamil Musa, Commander of the 436th Airlift Wing, and Col. Martha “Jeannie” Sasnett, Commander of Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations. The ceremony itself was closed to the press.
The six service members who died were from Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Washington state. Retired Lt. Col. Ernesto Nisperos, a friend of one of the fallen, highlighted the professionalism and courage of the crew, saying, “Every person on that aircraft carried a weight most Americans will never see, and they carried it with professionalism, courage, and a level of quiet excellence that deserves to be recognized.”
This tragic crash brings the U.S. death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13, with around 200 service members injured, including 10 severely, according to Pentagon reports.
Trump has previously visited Dover Air Force Base for dignified transfers, most recently on March 7, following a drone strike in Kuwait that killed six U.S. service members. After that visit, he described the transfers as “the bad part of war” and acknowledged the difficult reality of making repeated visits as the conflict continues.
The president’s visit comes shortly after the resignation of Joe Kent, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center. Kent criticized the ongoing war in Iran, stating in his resignation letter that “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.” Trump also referenced Kent on social media, sharing a 2020 post where Kent encouraged further action against Iran.
This solemn trip underscores both the human cost of the conflict and the challenges the U.S. military faces in the region.
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