Three US Citizens Fatally Wounded in Syrian Territory by Suspected ISIS Gunman, US Defense Department Says
A fatal attack in central Syria on Saturday led to the deaths of a pair of American troops and one American civilian interpreter, with a number of others wounded, according to the Pentagon.
The assault on American forces in the ancient city of Tadmur represents the first event to inflict casualties following the fall of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad approximately a year ago.
"This assault took place while the service members were conducting a high-level meeting," an official stated. "The operation was in support of ongoing counter-ISIS / anti-terror operations in the area."
The attacker responsible for the shooting was killed by partner forces, as confirmed by a statement from the US defense secretary.
Details Kept Private Out of Respect
Central Command noted that, as a matter of respect for the families and in line with policy, the identities of the fallen service members will not be released until a full day after their next of kin have been notified.
Earlier reports from local news agencies and a war monitor said that shots rang out during a visit by US soldiers to the area of Palmyra.
Conflicting Accounts Surface
According to a state-run media outlet, a pair of Syria's security force and several US service members were injured in the incident. Those hurt were reportedly transported by aircraft to a garrison near the border with Iraq and Jordan.
An official for the Syrian government claimed a shooter linked to Islamic State opened fire at the entrance of a military post. Authorities are looking into whether the assailant was a card-carrying member of the organization or simply adhered to its radical beliefs.
The official further denied a claim from a Britain-based monitoring group that the attacker was a member of the security forces.
Continued American Deployment in the Region
The United States maintains a military presence stationed in eastern Syria as part of a broader coalition combating the ISIS militant group.
Even after being militarily routed in Syria in 2019, the group's dormant networks still carry out deadly attacks. United Nations assessments suggest the faction retains thousands of fighters in Syria and Iraq.
US troops have previously been targeted in the before. Among the deadliest previous attacks took place in 2019 in northern Syria, when an explosion killed two US service members and two American civilians, among additional casualties.
