An ambush in central Syria has resulted in the deaths of three American personnel and left several others wounded, according to a statement from the Pentagon. The incident, which occurred near the historic town of Palmyra, marks the first lethal attack on U.S. forces in the country in over a year.
Officials confirmed that two U.S. soldiers and an American civilian interpreter were killed in the assault. The Pentagon’s chief spokesperson stated the personnel were engaged in a “key leader engagement” as part of ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the region when they were attacked. The assailant was reportedly killed by allied forces responding to the incident.
While formal identifications of the deceased are pending notification of next of kin, the attack has been attributed to operatives linked to the Islamic State. A Syrian security official noted that an investigation is underway to determine if the gunman was a formal member of the extremist group or an individual inspired by its ideology.
The wounded were evacuated by helicopter to a coalition garrison near the Syrian border. Reports from the area indicated that members of the local security force were also injured during the exchange of fire.
The United States maintains a contingent of several hundred troops in eastern Syria as part of an international coalition focused on preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State. Although the group was largely dismantled in 2019, U.N. assessments indicate thousands of its fighters remain active across Syria and Iraq, with sleeper cells continuing to conduct sporadic attacks.
This incident underscores the persistent threat in the region, even as diplomatic relations have shifted following recent political changes within Syria. U.S. forces, stationed at several locations including a garrison in Homs province, have been targeted in previous attacks, one of the most severe occurring in 2019.