Two US soldiers and a US civilian interpreter have been killed in Syria in an ambush by an Islamic State (IS) gunman, the US Central Command (Centcom) has said.
Officials stated that three other service members were injured during the confrontation, in which the assailant was subsequently killed. Syrian state media reported that there were also injuries to two Syrian personnel.
US President Donald Trump labeled the incident an ISIS attack and promised very serious retaliation. The Syrian government condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
The identities of the deceased have yet to be disclosed, pending notification of their next of kin, according to Centcom.
In a statement on X, Centcom indicated that the incident was a result of an ambush by a lone gunman identified as ISIS, while a Pentagon official classified the aggressor's actions as likely representing the terrorist organization. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the ambusher was affiliated with the Syrian security forces.
The attack took place in Palmyra while US and Syrian service members were engaged in a significant leader engagement, as confirmed by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. The assault is currently under investigation.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that anyone targeting US citizens globally would face relentless pursuit by American forces.
Despite the recent joint efforts and discussions of cooperation between the US and Syria against IS, the presence of ISIS fighters in the region continues to pose a threat. The United Nations estimates between 5,000 and 7,000 IS militants remain active in Syria and Iraq.
Since 2015, US forces have been stationed in Syria to support local troops in the campaign against the Islamic State.
