- The Washington Times - Wednesday, January 31, 2024

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden will attend the return of the remains of the three troops killed in the Middle East to American soil this week, the White House announced Wednesday.

“These service members represented the very, very best of our nation,” said White House press secretary Karine-Jean Pierre.

She added that Mr. Biden called the families of the slain service members Tuesday and will meet with them in person Friday at the dignified transfer ceremony in Dover, Delaware.

The Pentagon on Monday identified the soldiers, all of whom were from Georgia and served in the Army Reserve at Fort Moore in their home state: Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrolton; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah.

The service members were killed Sunday during a drone strike at an American military outpost in Jordan.

Iranian-backed terrorists were believed to be behind the attack, one of several in the region spurred by Tehran. U.S. officials are working to identify which group was responsible.

Republicans in Congress have demanded Mr. Biden retaliate against Iran for its hit on Tower 22, which houses about 350 U.S. Army and Air Force personnel.

• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.

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