ISIS Ambush Kills Two US Soldiers and Civilian in Central Syria
Deadly Attack in Palmyra
Two U.S. Army soldiers and an American civilian interpreter were killed on Saturday in central Syria when an Islamic State (ISIS) gunman ambushed their patrol, the Pentagon confirmed. Three others sustained injuries in the attack, marking the first deadly incident targeting U.S. forces since Syria’s political transition late last year.
The attack occurred in the ancient city of Palmyra, where U.S. troops were supporting counterterrorism operations. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the soldiers were conducting a “key leader engagement” when the ambush took place.
Assailant Neutralized
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that partner forces later killed the gunman. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, described the casualties as the result of “an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman.”
Syrian state media reported that both American and Syrian troops were wounded during the attack. The soldiers had been on a “joint field tour” in the area, once a stronghold for ISIS, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
Security Warnings Ignored
Syria’s Interior Ministry indicated that internal security services had warned allied forces of potential ISIS infiltration in the central desert region. Ministry spokesman Anwar al-Baba said the warnings were not acted upon. A Pentagon official added that the attack took place in a region outside the control of the Syrian presidency.
Continued ISIS Threat
Despite the territorial defeat of ISIS, the group continues to carry out sporadic attacks, especially in Syria’s central desert. The ambush comes nearly a year after the overthrow of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad, a change that has reshaped the country’s political landscape and reopened limited engagement with the United States.
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