Syria—The United States has pledged “very serious retaliation” after a deadly ambush in central Syria killed two US service members and a civilian interpreter, marking the first fatal attack on American forces since the fall of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad a year ago.
The attack occurred on Saturday near the historic city of Palmyra, an area still plagued by instability despite recent political changes in Damascus.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the incident took place during a joint counterterrorism mission when a lone gunman opened fire on US and Syrian personnel. The attacker was later killed.
Three additional US service members and at least two Syrian security personnel were wounded and evacuated by helicopter to the al-Tanf garrison near the borders with Iraq and Jordan.
The identities of the deceased Americans are being withheld for 24 hours pending notification of their families.
President Donald Trump described the incident as “an ISIS attack against the U.S. and Syria” and warned of a forceful response. “There will be very serious retaliation,” he wrote, adding that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed by this attack.”
Conflicting accounts over attacker’s identity
While US officials have blamed the IS group, Syrian officials and regional sources have suggested the possibility of an insider, or “green-on-blue,” attack.
Syria’s Interior Ministry spokesman Nour al-Din al-Baba said the assailant had been undergoing evaluation for extremist ideology and was expected to face administrative action a day after the attack.
US officials, however, stressed that the assault took place in territory not fully controlled by Damascus.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stark warning, stating: “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.”
US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack also condemned what he called a “cowardly terrorist ambush” targeting a joint US-Syrian patrol.
Broader security context
The attack underscores persistent security challenges in post-Assad Syria, where ISIS sleeper cells remain active despite the group’s territorial defeat in 2019.
The United Nations estimates that between 5,000 and 7,000 ISIS fighters are still operating across Syria and Iraq.
The US maintains roughly 2,000 troops in Syria as part of the international coalition against ISIS.
The incident comes at a sensitive moment, as Washington and Damascus have recently taken steps to normalize ties following the collapse of the Assad regime.
US officials said investigations are ongoing, and further military and diplomatic responses are under consideration.
Read more: Drone Attack on UN Base in Sudan Kills Six Bangladeshi Peacekeepers; Pakistani QRF Rescues Survivors
