A Trio of Americans Killed in Syrian Territory by Alleged ISIS Assailant, Pentagon Says
A deadly ambush in central Syria on Saturday resulted in the loss of a pair of American troops and a US civilian translator, with several other people injured, according to the US Department of Defense.
The assault on American forces in the historic city of Tadmur marks the initial event to inflict casualties following the ouster of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad roughly a year prior.
"This assault took place while the soldiers were carrying out a high-level meeting," an official stated. "The operation was in support of ongoing anti-ISIS / counter-terrorism missions in the area."
The attacker responsible for the gunfire was killed by partner forces, as confirmed by a statement from the US defense secretary.
Details Withheld For Privacy
US CENTCOM noted that, to respect the privacy for the loved ones and in line with standard procedure, the identities of the fallen service members will not be released until 24 hours after their next of kin have been informed.
Initial accounts from local news agencies and a war monitor said that shots rang out during a visit by US soldiers to the area of Palmyra.
Varying Reports Surface
According to a state-run news agency, two members of Syria's security force and several US personnel were injured in the exchange. Those hurt were reportedly transported by aircraft to a military base near the border with Iraq and Jordan.
A spokesperson for Syria's interior ministry said a shooter affiliated with ISIS opened fire at the entrance of a military post. Officials are investigating whether the assailant was a formal member of the organization or simply espoused its extreme ideology.
The official further refuted a report from a Britain-based monitoring group that the gunman was a member of the security forces.
Ongoing US Presence in the Region
The US currently has hundreds of troops deployed in eastern Syria as a component of a broader coalition combating the ISIS militant group.
Even after being militarily routed in the country in 2019, the group's sleeper cells continue to carry out deadly attacks. United Nations assessments indicate the group still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both Syria and Iraq.
American forces have been attacked in the before. One of the most severe prior incidents occurred in 2019 in the north, when an blast claimed the lives of two US service members and US civilians, among additional casualties.