A Trio of Americans Killed in Syria by Suspected Islamic State Gunman, US Defense Department Says
A deadly ambush in the heart of Syria on Saturday morning led to the deaths of a pair of American troops and a US civilian translator, with several other people wounded, according to the US Department of Defense.
The assault on American forces in the historic city of Palmyra marks the first incident to inflict casualties since the ouster of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad approximately a year ago.
"The attack occurred as the soldiers were carrying out a high-level meeting," an official said. "The operation was in support of ongoing anti-ISIS / anti-terror missions in the area."
The attacker behind the gunfire was killed by partner forces, as confirmed by a statement from the Secretary of Defense.
Specifics Kept Private For Privacy
US CENTCOM noted that, as a matter of respect for the families and in accordance with policy, the names of the fallen service members will not be released until 24 hours after their families have been informed.
Initial accounts from Syrian state media and a conflict observatory said that gunfire erupted during a visit by American troops to the area of Tadmur.
Varying Reports Surface
According to a state-run media outlet, a pair of local security forces and several US personnel were wounded in the incident. Those hurt were reportedly evacuated by helicopters to a garrison near the border with Iraq and Jordan.
An official for the Syrian government claimed a shooter linked to Islamic State began shooting at the gate of a army position. Authorities are looking into whether the individual was a formal member of the organization or simply espoused its radical beliefs.
This spokesperson further refuted a report from a UK-based rights group that the attacker was a member of the security forces.
Ongoing American Deployment in the Region
The United States currently has a military presence stationed in eastern Syria as a component of a broader coalition fighting the ISIS militant group.
Despite being militarily routed in Syria in recent years, the organization's dormant networks still execute lethal strikes. United Nations assessments suggest the group still has between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
US troops have previously been attacked in the before. One of the deadliest previous attacks occurred in 2019 in the north, when an blast killed American soldiers and US civilians, among others.
