The Pentagon has stated that three other service members were injured in the attack.
On Saturday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that a “lone ISIS gunman” ambushed US military and civilian personnel in Syria, resulting in three deaths and three injuries in the attack.
The US military said that the gunman was “engaged and killed” during the attack. CENTCOM did not provide details on the exact location of the incident and did not disclose the identities of the victims in line with the Pentagon’s policies.
US President Donald Trump has promised a “very serious retaliation” for the attack and placed the blame on the terrorist group Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS).
“This was an ISIS attack against the US and Syria in a very dangerous part of Syria that they do not fully control. The president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
Local media reports indicate that the attack took place near the central Syrian town of Palmyra, where a joint patrol of Syrian government forces and US troops came under fire. At least two Syrian servicemen were injured in the attack.
After the attack, traffic on the Damascus – Deir ez-Zor highway was temporarily stopped, and the area around Palmyra was cordoned off. Online – circulated footage shows that multiple US military aircraft were seen flying at a low altitude in the area.
The Syrian Interior Ministry claimed that it had warned the US – led coalition about a “possible” attack by IS. However, ministry spokesman Anwar al – Baba said in a televised speech that the prior warnings of “possible IS infiltration” were ignored by the “partner forces.”
The Kurdish – led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which still control Syria’s northeast, offered their “deepest condolences” to the US regarding the incident. The SDF, a long – time ally of Washington in the region, reaffirmed its commitment to “combat terrorism” and promised a “decisive and direct” response “against those responsible for the attack and those who support them.”
In its statement, the SDF did not mention the government in Damascus, with which relations remain tense. For months, Damascus has been trying to bring the SDF – held territories under its direct control, but no breakthrough has been made.
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