A deadly ambush in central Syria has shattered a period of relative calm for U.S. forces in the region, with the Pentagon confirming that two U.S. Army soldiers and one American civilian interpreter were killed Saturday. The attack, which took place near the historic city of Palmyra, was blamed on a “lone ISIS gunman.”
The incident marks the first American combat fatalities in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime and comes just weeks after the new Syrian government formally joined the global coalition against the Islamic State, highlighting the enduring and unpredictable threat posed by the militant group’s sleeper cells.
The Attack Near Palmyra
The ambush occurred while the soldiers were conducting a “key leader engagement” as part of ongoing counter-terrorism operations, according to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.
- The Incident: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the attack was an “ambush by a lone ISIS gunman in Syria.” The gunman was “engaged and killed” by partner forces following the assault.
- The Victims: The three Americans—two soldiers and a civilian interpreter—were pronounced dead at the scene. Three other U.S. service members were also wounded in the attack and were evacuated by helicopter to the U.S. military base at Al-Tanf, near the border with Iraq and Jordan.
- Cooperation Context: The patrol was reportedly a joint U.S.-Syrian security operation near Palmyra, a city once held by ISIS and a critical point in the Syrian desert where the remnants of the group continue to operate. Syrian state media also reported that two members of Syria’s security forces were wounded.
In accordance with Department of Defense policy, the identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after their families have been notified.
The Vow of Retaliation
President Donald Trump addressed the attack from the White House before departing for the Army-Navy football game, confirming the casualties and issuing a stern warning to the perpetrators.
“This is an ISIS attack,” President Trump told reporters. He offered his condolences to the families of the three Americans killed and then added, “We will retaliate.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a more explicit threat on social media platform X:
“The savage who perpetrated this attack was killed by partner forces. Let it be known, 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.”
The fatalities underscore the dangers still faced by the approximately 900 U.S. troops remaining in eastern and central Syria, whose mission is to prevent the resurgence of ISIS and support local partner forces.
The ambush will undoubtedly renew questions about the scope and safety of the U.S. presence in the region, particularly as the political relationship with the new Syrian government—which recently joined the coalition against ISIS—continues to evolve. The focus now shifts to the U.S. response, with a retaliatory strike expected in the coming days.