WASHINGTON – PresidentDonald Trumpwill attend a dignified transfer of six Americans killed in an Iranian drone attack during the first weekend of fighting in the open-ended war Trump administration officials said would likely result in additional servicemembers' deaths.
Four of the servicemembers were part of an Iowa-based reserve unitthat the Pentagon sayswas stationed in Kuwait. They were killed in a March 1 drone attack.
The soldiers were Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, ofWest Des Moines, Iowa.The U.S military saysthat Maj. Jeffrey O'Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California, was also killed in the attack.
More:Pentagon IDs 4 US soldiers killed in Iran war: What to know
Trump will be present along with their families for their arrival at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds was also expected to attend.
Dignified transfersare reserved formembers of the military who were killed in action and always take place at Dover. They involve the transfer of the casket by military personnel from the aircraft that transported them to an awaiting vehicle.
Trump will travel from Miami for the transfer. He and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are hosting a March 7 summit for Latin American leaders at the president's Doral golf club. He is expected to return to Miami after the dignified transfer in Dover.
Nation grieves for Americans killed in action
The president first acknowledged the deaths in a March 1 video that posted to his social media account.
"As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives, we pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen," Trump said. "Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That's the way it is."
Trump pledged to do "everything possible" to protect American troops. And he vowed to avenge the soldiers' deaths.
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"As the president said, we grieve for these American patriots and their families as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saidat a March 4 briefingwhen announced Trump's plans to attend the dignified transfer.
Trump's strikes on Iran have come under scrutiny, as the regional death toll continues to rise, as nations across the Middle East, and from other regions, such as Ukraine, joining the ongoing fight.
The death toll in Iran exceeded 1,200, as of March 6. U.S. officials said they are investigating a strike on a girls' school in southern Iran that killed an estimated 175 people.
The last time the presidentattendeda dignified transfer was in December, when two Iowa Army National Guard troops and their interpreter, who were killed in Syria during a mission to combat the Islamic State, were returned to the U.S.
More:What is a dignified transfer? Iowans killed in Kuwait to return to US
Democrats in Congress tried and failed this week in mostly party-line votes in the House and Senate to block Trump from continuing the strikes in Iran.
Trump has said the war could last four to five weeks. Pentagon chiefPete Hegsethhas said it could go on longer or end more swiftly, but he noted that the United States would not quit its bombing campaign until the American military fulfilled its objectives. What those objectives are is not entirely clear: Trump has said the United States wants to eliminate Iran's navy, destroy its ballistic missile capabilities and keep Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
U.S. officials, such as Hegseth, have said the war will not be "endless" while emphasizing the United States has enough munitions to carry out an indefinite number of strikes.
Contributing: Michael Loria, Chris Kenning, Chris Quintana, Kevin Baskins, Kyle Werner of USA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trump to receive remains of six Americans killed in Iran war