On Wednesday, Donald Trump made an unannounced visit carrying out the somber duties of a commander in chief so as to honor the returning remains of a US Navy SEAL who was killed during a raid in Yemen. William “Ryan” Owens, the Chief Special Warfare Operator, from Peoria, Illinois, died during the operation, along with an 8-year old US girl and 29 others.
Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka to a trip to Dover Airbase in Delaware on Wednesday. They made this journey to honor the remains of a Navy SEAL who was killed in action during a raid in Yemen. Three others were also wounded during the same event. 36-year old Owens was the first known US casualty ever since Trump took the role of President.
During his trip to the Delaware’s Dover Air Base with his daughter, they were completely shrouded in secrecy. The left the White House using a Presidential Helicopter along with a small group of journalists who traveled with him, and they were told to join the group only on the condition that it was not reported until he had arrived.
Marine One landed at Dover Air Base, shortly before a C17, which was thought to have been carrying Owens’ remains, arrived. It was expected from the President to meet Owens’ family, who has asked for his visit and also that the dignified transfer of Owens’ remains was kept private.
President Barack Obama was the one who lifted the ban on media coverage of dignified transfers. At the same time, many families ask for privacy, and it is allowed. The pre-dawn raid on Sunday was defense official which was earlier planned by the Obama administration but was ultimately authorized by Donald Trump.
There were 30 others killed in the same operation, including an 8-year old American girl. The raid could mark the start of more operations in Yemen. It can also signal a new type of escalation against the radical groups in the country.
There were more than half a dozen militant suspects who were killed during the operation. It also resulted in the death of the eight-year-old daughter of Anwar-al-Awlaki. She was a US Citizen and a radical cleric, who was killed in a drone strike in 2011.
During his campaign for the White House, Trump said that he would be willing to eliminate the families of terrorists to root out the cause of extremism. Sean Spicer, a spokesman for White House, said on Tuesday that no Americans will ever be targeted in raids against that of terror suspects.
Back in 1998, Owens joined the Navy and got two Bronze stars, along with an Afghanistan medal and a Joint Service Commendation. He was also proclaimed as a true professional, a devoted father and also a wonderful husband, during a statement by the xx after his death.
In spite of there being fewer American troops who serve in hotspots all around the world, there are still thousands located in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was a somber occasion for both father and daughter, Donald and Ivanka but the family asked for the airbase meeting to remain private.
At the moment, approximately 8,400 US troops are advising and training local forces in Afghanistan and more than 5100 troops in Iraq. In Syria, there are around 500 involved in the campaign against the radical Islamic State Group.
Meanwhile, there are counterterrorism operations in Yemen which are primarily in the form of drone strikes and where Al-Qaida located in the Arabian Peninsula has been exploiting the chaos caused by civil war.