DES MOINES, Iowa —

Two Iowa Army National Guard soldiers were killed Saturday in an attack described by U.S. military leaders as an "ambush" in Syria. A U.S. civilian interpreter was also killed and three other Iowa soldiers were wounded.

Saturday's attack marks the first combat death of an Iowa Army National Guard soldier since the 2011 death of Sgt. 1st Class Terryl L. Pasker.

Pasker, an eastern Iowa native, was killed July 9, 2011, in Afghanistan, just days before his unit was scheduled to finish their deployment in the Middle East.

Video above: 'Our hearts are heavy' after Iowa National Guard members killed in Syria

Media reports at the time say Pasker was fatally shot by a "rogue Afghan soldier at a makeshift checkpoint" in Panjshir province.

Pasker served with Company B, 334t

See Full Page