Three US citizens, two service members and one civilian interpreter were killed, and three others injured, in an ambush by a lone ISIL gunman in central Syria, prompting US President Donald Trump to vow “very serious retaliation” against the terror group. The attack is the first to inflict fatalities on US forces in Syria since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad a year ago.
According to the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM), the shooting occurred on Saturday near the historic city of Palmyra, a volatile region that remains only partially under Syrian government control. The victims were targeted during what officials described as a “key leader engagement” in support of ongoing counter-ISIS and counter-terrorism operations.
Trump Warns Of ‘Very Serious Retaliation’
“This was an ISIS attack against the US, and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. He said Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the attack and warned that those responsible would face serious consequences. “There will be very serious retaliation,” Trump said.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House before departing for the Army–Navy football game in Baltimore, Trump again described the incident as an ISIS attack and offered condolences to the families of the victims. He added that the three injured personnel “seem to be doing pretty well.”
Pentagon Confirms Details Of Attack
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed that the deceased included two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter. Three other service members were wounded and evacuated by helicopter to the US al-Tanf garrison near the borders with Iraq and Jordan. The soldiers’ names and unit details are being withheld until at least 24 hours after next-of-kin notifications are completed.
Parnell said the troops were attacked while conducting a key leader engagement. “Their mission was in support of ongoing counter-ISIS and counter-terrorism operations in the region,” he noted.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the assailant was killed by partner forces shortly after the attack. In a sharply worded statement posted on X, Hegseth warned, “If you target Americans, anywhere in the world, you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you.”
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