Two U.S. Army soldiers and an American civilian interpreter lost their lives during an assault on U.S. and Syrian forces engaged in a mission in a historically significant town in Syria on Saturday, according to military officials. In response to the attack, President Trump announced on Sunday that the U.S. would enact “very serious retaliation,” attributing the incident to the Islamic State.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “This was an ISIS attack against the U.S. and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria that is not fully controlled by them.” He also mentioned that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed profound anger and concern regarding the attack, emphasizing that strong action would follow.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell noted on X that the incident occurred while the soldiers were participating in a “key leader engagement,” resulting in three additional service members sustaining injuries. He clarified that their operation was part of ongoing counter-ISIS and counter-terrorism efforts in the region, adding that the names and unit details of the deceased would be withheld until the next of kin had been notified. An active investigation into the attack is underway.
U.S. Central Command reported that the assault stemmed from an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman, who was subsequently engaged and killed. The shooting happened near Palmyra, according to Syria’s state-run SANA news agency, which also reported that two members of Syria’s security forces were injured, though further details regarding their condition were not immediately available.
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the identity of the gunman remains undisclosed. Speaking to reporters outside the White House before attending the Army-Navy football game in Baltimore, Trump stated that the three wounded service members “seem to be doing well.” He expressed his condolences, saying, “We mourn the loss of three great patriots in Syria,” and highlighted that the Syrian forces were fighting alongside the U.S. He added, “This is an ISIS attack. We mourn the loss. We pray for their parents and loved ones.”
When questioned about potential U.S. responses to further attacks, Trump affirmed, “We will retaliate.”
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also commented on the situation via X, stating that the “savage who perpetrated this attack was killed by partner forces.” He warned, “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.”
Tom Barrack, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, denounced the “cowardly terrorist ambush” on X. He expressed grief over the loss of the three American service members and civilian personnel, wishing a swift recovery for the Syrian troops injured in the attack. Barrack reiterated the U.S. commitment to combating terrorism alongside their Syrian partners.
The United States maintains a presence of hundreds of troops in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting the Islamic State group. Recently, Syria has joined the international coalition against ISIS, marking a shift in relations with Western nations following the previous year’s upheaval of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
With the Assad family’s five-decade rule now ended, ties between the U.S. and Syria have begun to thaw. Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington last month marked a significant diplomatic engagement, during which he held discussions with President Trump.
Although ISIS was declared defeated in Syria in 2019, the group still operates sleeper cells that conduct lethal attacks. The United Nations estimates that ISIS retains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
U.S. forces, which have established bases in various locations throughout Syria — including the Al-Tanf garrison in Homs Province — are involved in training local forces as part of a broader strategy against ISIS. They have faced attacks in the past, including a tragic incident in 2019 in the northern town of Manbij, where a blast claimed the lives of two U.S. service members, two American civilians, and several Syrians during a patrol.
