Three Americans Die in Suspected ISIS Attack on Syrian Convoy
Two US Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in Syria on Saturday when a suspected Islamic State operative attacked a joint American-Syrian convoy in the historic town of Palmyra, according to US military officials.
The deadly assault occurred barely a month after Syria signed a political cooperation agreement with the US-led coalition against Islamic State, highlighting the persistent security challenges facing Western forces in the region.
Attacker Was Syrian Security Member
The perpetrator was identified as a member of Syrian security forces, three local officials confirmed to Reuters. Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson Noureddine el-Baba revealed that authorities had already flagged the individual as potentially holding extremist views.
"On December 10, an evaluation was issued indicating that this attacker might hold extremist ideas, and a decision regarding him was due to be issued tomorrow, on Sunday," el-Baba told Syrian state television.
The attack wounded three additional US soldiers, while Syrian partner forces killed the lone gunman during the incident.
Trump Vows Serious Retaliation
US President Donald Trump condemned the attack on his Truth Social platform, mourning the loss of "three great patriots" and promising "very serious retaliation." He described the incident as "terrible" during remarks to reporters.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that partner forces eliminated the attacker, while US Central Command stated the assault occurred "as the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement" in Palmyra.
Warning Signs Ignored
Syrian officials claimed they had warned coalition forces about potential Islamic State activity in the region, but that "coalition forces did not take the Syrian warnings into account," according to el-Baba.
The attack took place in an area outside Syrian government control, a senior US official noted, adding that initial assessments pointed to Islamic State involvement, though the group has not claimed responsibility.
Ongoing Counter-Terror Operations
US Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack condemned the attack while reaffirming America's commitment to fighting terrorism alongside Syrian partners.
"We mourn the loss of three brave US service members and civilian personnel and wish a speedy recovery to the Syrian troops wounded in the attack," Barrack stated.
The incident underscores the continuing threats facing international forces in Syria, where the US maintains troops in the northeast as part of a decade-long mission supporting Kurdish-led forces against Islamic State remnants.
Recent months have seen intensified US-led coalition operations targeting suspected Islamic State militants, often coordinated with Syrian security forces. Syria conducted a nationwide crackdown last month, arresting over 70 individuals with alleged ties to the terrorist organization.