A deadly ISIL attack in central Syria claimed the lives of two U.S. service members and a civilian interpreter, prompting President Donald Trump to pledge “serious retaliation.”

The ambush, which took place near Palmyra, also left several others wounded as U.S. forces continued counter-terrorism operations.

The attack occurred on Saturday during a joint U.S.–Syrian patrol in the Homs region, a key area for ongoing counter-ISIS operations.
Two American soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter were killed, while three other U.S. military personnel and at least two Syrian troops were injured.

According to CENTCOM, the lone gunman responsible for the ambush was “engaged and killed” by partner forces shortly after the attack.

Trump and Pentagon response

President Donald Trump confirmed the casualties on social media, stating that the injured soldiers were “doing well.” He warned that there would be serious consequences for ISIL’s actions.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth echoed the President’s stance, asserting that anyone targeting Americans would be relentlessly pursued and punished.

Details about suspect

The suspect’s identity has not been officially released. Local Syrian officials suggested he may have been part of the Syrian security forces, though not in a leadership role. Authorities noted he may have held extremist views, with an evaluation pending prior to the attack.

Witnesses reported that shots were fired inside a Syrian base, and U.S. helicopters evacuated the wounded to the al-Tanf base near the Iraqi border.

Context of US operations in Syria

The U.S. maintains approximately 2,000 troops in Syria, supporting Kurdish-led forces in the fight against ISIL.
Although ISIL lost territorial control in Syria by 2018, the group continues to conduct sporadic attacks, such as this ambush near Palmyra.

In November, CENTCOM announced the destruction of over 15 ISIL weapons cache sites, demonstrating ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the region.