![3] A combination picture shows U.S. Army 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan (left), Pvt. Isabella Gonzales (center), and U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command soldier Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton (right), who were killed in Iranian attacks in July, in these handout pictures released by the U.S. Army. U.S. Army/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights](https://diasporadigitalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/3V7YQRUW3FJAFL6S6V5UTTHULI.avif "3V7YQRUW3FJAFL6S6V5UTTHULI")
United States President Donald Trump will travel to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday to attend the dignified transfer ceremony for four American service members killed in recent Iranian attacks in the Middle East.
The solemn military ceremony will mark the return of the fallen troops to the United States in flag-draped caskets, as criticism of the administration’s handling of the war with Iran continues to grow.
According to U.S. officials, the conflict has so far claimed the lives of 18 American service members, injured more than 450 troops, and cost U.S. taxpayers an estimated $37.5 billion. The war has also resulted in thousands of deaths in Iran.
The four soldiers being honoured include First Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25, Sergeant Angel S. Rampersad, 28, and Private Isabella Gonzales, 19, who were killed when an Iranian missile struck their sleeping quarters at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on Friday. All three served in U.S. Army air defence brigades.
The fourth casualty, Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, died on Sunday in Erbil, Iraq, during the controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian attack drone.
Dover Air Force Base, home to the U.S. military’s largest mortuary, regularly hosts dignified transfer ceremonies attended by presidents, senior officials and military leaders during times of war.
The Pentagon said on Monday that 100 U.S. service members have been injured since July 7, adding that 96 per cent have already returned to duty.
The ongoing conflict has drawn increasing scrutiny in Washington, with lawmakers from both major parties questioning its objectives and mounting costs.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that four in five Americans believe the war is likely to continue for an extended period, while only 37 per cent support U.S. military strikes against Iran.
The conflict has also driven up global oil prices, fuelling inflation concerns and adding political pressure on Trump ahead of November’s midterm elections, where Republicans face a difficult battle to retain control of Congress.
