A Trio of US Citizens Killed in Syria by Suspected Islamic State Gunman, US Defense Department Says
A fatal ambush in central Syria on Saturday led to the deaths of two US army soldiers and one American civilian interpreter, with several other people wounded, according to the Pentagon.
The assault on American forces in the historic city of Palmyra marks the initial event to cause fatalities following the fall of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad approximately a year ago.
"The attack took place while the soldiers were carrying out a key leader engagement," an official stated. "The operation was in support of on-going anti-ISIS / anti-terror missions in the region."
The assailant responsible for the gunfire was eliminated by partner forces, according to a declaration from the US defense secretary.
Details Withheld For Privacy
Central Command indicated that, as a matter of respect for the loved ones and in accordance with standard procedure, the names of the deceased personnel will be withheld until a full day after their next of kin have been informed.
Earlier reports from local news agencies and a war monitor said that gunfire rang out during a tour by US soldiers to the central town of Tadmur.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
Per a government news agency, two members of Syria's security force and a number of US service members were injured in the incident. Those hurt were reportedly transported by helicopters to a garrison near the border with Iraq and Jordan.
A spokesperson for the Syrian government claimed a gunman linked to Islamic State opened fire at the gate of a military post. Authorities are looking into whether the assailant was a card-carrying member of the organization or simply adhered to its extreme ideology.
This spokesperson further refuted a report from a UK-based monitoring group that the attacker was a member of the security forces.
Ongoing US Presence in the Region
The US maintains hundreds of troops deployed in eastern Syria as a component of a broader coalition fighting the Islamic State.
Despite being declared defeated in Syria in recent years, the group's dormant networks still execute deadly attacks. United Nations estimates indicate the group retains thousands of militants in both Syria and Iraq.
US troops have been attacked in the past. Among the deadliest prior incidents occurred in 2019 in northern Syria, when an explosion claimed the lives of American soldiers and two American civilians, among additional casualties.
