Two American soldiers have converted to Islam, changed their names and married after serving five years in Afghanistan. Two American soldiers serving in the US Airbase in Parvan in Bagram province converted to the lofty religion of Islam in the presence of religious authorities, IRNA reported.

The female and male converts changed their names to Maryam and Ebrahim. The couple were then married according to Muslim tradition. The pair served as soldiers in the U.S. army at Bagram air base which is the hub of U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan and lies to the north of the capital Kabul.

Several dozen Westerners visiting Afghanistan have become Muslims since the war began in 2001, but it was the first time any U.S. soldiers were reported to have converted to Islam. A number of religious and political authorities were attending the ceremony that was organized by a regional council to celebrate the occasion.