President Trump Travels To Air Force Base For Arrival Of Illinois Commando's Remains | UPDATE

Updated Feb. 1: President Donald J. Trump arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Wednesday afternoon for the arrival of Chief Special Warfare Operator William "Ryan" Owens' remains, according to a White House pool report.

Owens, 36, was killed during a raid that, according to the Pentagon, killed 14 al-Qaida operatives in Yemen's Arabian Peninsula on Saturday.

A decorated serviceman, Owens was reportedly a member of SEAL Team 6.

During the raid, an MV-22 Osprey aircraft experienced a hard landing, injuring several other servicemen, according to NBC News. An 8-year-old American girl — the daughter of a U.S.-born al-Qaida leader killed five years ago — was also killed in the raid, NBC reported.

Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, accompanied the president on his unannounced visit to pay tribute to Owens, according to the pool report.

Owens is the first reported U.S. combat casualty since Trump took office on Jan. 20.

Original story posted Jan. 30: The Department of Defense has identified the Navy SEAL killed Saturday in a raid on al-Qaida operatives in Yemen as Chief Special Warfare Operator William "Ryan" Owens, 36, of Peoria. Three other U.S. service members were injured in the raid.

>>>> U.S. Commando Killed In Raid On al-Qaida In Yemen

Fourteen members of al-Qaida were reportedly killed in the operation in the Arabian Peninsula.

Owens was assigned to an East Coast-based Special Warfare unit, according to the Department of Defense, which said the raid "yielded valuable intelligence."

Owens was the first U.S. serviceman killed since President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20. According to the Navy, he enlisted in 1998. He was a decorated serviceman, earning the Navy/Marine Corps Medal, three Bronze Stars, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and numerous other accolades.

On Sunday, Trump issued a statement calling the raid "successful" but lamenting Owens' death. The raid had been in the planning stages for months but was authorized by Trump, according to the Washington Post.

"Americans are saddened this morning with news that a life of a heroic service member has been taken in our fight against the evil of radical Islamic terrorism," Trump said. "The sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed forces, and the families they leave behind, are the backbone of the liberty we hold so dear as Americans, united in our pursuit of a safer nation and a freer world."

"I extend my condolences to the family and shipmates" of Owens, secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said in a statement. "Ryan gave his full measure for our nation, and in performing his duty, he upheld the noblest standard of military service. The United States would not long exist were it not for the selfless commitment of such warriors. I thank our gallant troops and their families for their dedication to protecting this nation, and I pass our respects to Ryan's family in this most difficult time."

Information recovered in the raid will help the United States “gain a deeper insight into the group’s planning to help prevent terrorist attacks against innocent civilians in the United States and our coalition-partner nations,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said. He said the data will help the U.S. gather the information it needs to map the group better and prevent future terror attacks.

The raid followed a series of military operations against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula by the United States in Yemem's al-Baydah region.

Photo of William "Ryan" Owens courtesy of the U.S. Navy