US President Donald Trump has vowed to pursue “significant retaliation” against ISIL (ISIS) after an ambush in central Syria killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
Saturday’s attack on U.S. forces resulted in the first casualties since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a year ago.
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The attack also injured three U.S. military personnel and at least two Syrian soldiers, according to government and media reports.
President Trump said in a social media post that he had received confirmation that the injured US soldier was “fine.”
However, he warned that there would be serious consequences for what he called an ISIL (ISIS) attack.
“This was an attack by the United States and ISIS against a very dangerous region of Syria that we do not fully control,” Trump wrote. “Syrian President Ahmed al-Shalah is very angry and upset by this attack. There will be very serious retaliation.”
His comments echoed those of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who also promised tough action against those who attack U.S. service members.
“Target Americans anywhere in the world and you will spend the rest of your short, anxious life knowing that America will hunt you, seek you out, and kill you without mercy,” Hegseth wrote on social media.
Implementation of “anti-terrorism operations”
Saturday’s attack was first announced by U.S. Central Command, also known as CENTCOM.
The attack was described as an “ambush” by a lone ISIL gunman, who was then “engaged and killed.” Hegseth later confirmed that the gunman was “killed by partner forces.”
The attack occurred near Palmyra in central Syria’s Homs region, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said.
“The attack occurred while soldiers were engaging key leaders,” he said in a statement. “Their mission was to support ongoing anti-ISIS/counter-terrorism operations in the region.”
Meanwhile, Turkiye US Ambassador Tom Barrack described the incident as a “despicable terrorist ambush targeting a joint US and Syrian government patrol.” He pointed out that “some Syrian military personnel were injured in the attack,” and wished them a “speedy recovery.”
However, details of the attack and those involved remain unclear.
Centcom said the U.S. government would withhold identifying information about deceased U.S. soldiers and their units “until 24 hours after next of kin is notified.”
The U.S. Department of Defense said the incident remains an “active investigation.”
Who was the suspect?
The identity of the suspect has also not been released.
But three local officials told Reuters the attackers were members of the Syrian security forces.
A spokesperson for Syria’s Interior Ministry also told Al-Ikhbaria TV that the attackers had no leadership role in the country’s security forces. It was not disclosed whether the man was a junior member.
“On December 10, an assessment was issued indicating that the assailant may have extremist ideology, and a decision on him was scheduled to be taken tomorrow, Sunday,” spokesman Noureddine El-Baba said.
The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) earlier reported that Syrian security forces and US forces came under shelling during a joint patrol.
Meanwhile, AFP news agency quoted an unnamed Syrian military official as saying that shots were fired “during a meeting between Syrian and American military officers” at a Syrian military base in Palmyra.
Witnesses in the city also told authorities on condition of anonymity that they heard gunshots coming from inside the base.
Traffic on the highway connecting Deir al-Zor and Damascus was temporarily suspended as military aircraft flew over the area, the agency said.
Security sources told SANA that US military helicopters evacuated the wounded to al-Tanf base near the Iraqi border.
Long-term presence in the US
Following the attack, U.S. officials pledged to redouble efforts to fight the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria.
“Until ISIS is completely destroyed, we remain steadfast in this mission and all attacks against Americans will be met with swift and merciless justice,” Ambassador Barrack wrote on social media.
“We will work with the Syrian government to relentlessly pursue all individuals, intermediaries, financiers and perpetrators involved in this heinous act. They will be identified and held swiftly and decisively to account.”
The United States has troops stationed in northeastern Syria as part of a decade-long effort to support Kurdish-led forces fighting ISIL (ISIS).
ISIL captured Palmyra in 2015 at the height of its military dominance in Syria, but lost it 10 months later. During that time, they destroyed some ancient ruins and artifacts and used others to carry out mass executions.
ISIL (Islamic State) was brought under control in Syria in 2018, but it does not control any territory in Syria and continues to carry out sporadic attacks.
As of December 2024, approximately 2,000 US troops are stationed in Syria to continue the fight against ISIL (ISIS).
In late November, CENTCOM announced it would destroy “more than 15 sites, including ISIS weapons caches,” as the U.S. continued operations against the insurgents.
Syria this month marks one year since the ouster of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad, but the war-torn country still faces tough security and economic challenges as it seeks to rebuild and rebuild after 14 years of devastating civil war.
