In a shocking incident this past weekend 😢, two U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian were killed in an ambush by a lone Islamic State (IS) gunman near Palmyra in central Syria, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) announced on Saturday. Three other service members were injured.
The attacker was engaged and killed by U.S. forces. USCENTCOM said the identities of the fallen will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been informed, in line with Department of War policy.
“There will be very serious retaliation,” U.S. President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform 🔥, promising a strong response against IS in Syria.
Earlier, Syria’s state-run SANA news agency reported that a joint patrol of Syrian security forces and U.S. troops came under fire near Palmyra. Two Syrian personnel and several U.S. service members were wounded, while the attacker was killed.
This marks the deadliest attack on U.S. troops in Syria since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad a year ago, highlighting ongoing risks on the ground. The U.S. maintains a limited presence in the region to fight IS remnants and support local partners 🕊️.
The attack underscores the persistent threat posed by IS, even as its territorial control has waned. As U.S. forces assess next steps, the region remains on edge.
Reference(s):
2 U.S. service members, 1 U.S. civilian killed in IS attack in Syria
cgtn.com
