Two American Soldiers Killed in Syria Attack
DAMASCUS: On Saturday, two American service members and their interpreter lost their lives in central Syria after an attack by an alleged Islamic State member. This incident occurred during a joint patrol between US and Syrian forces in Palmyra.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the fatalities on social media following earlier reports from Syrian state media about injuries among both American and Syrian troops. CENTCOM stated that a single gunman from ISIS ambushed the troops, resulting in the deaths and injuries of three additional soldiers. The assailant was shot and killed at the scene.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell revealed that the troops were engaged in important discussions aimed at counter-terrorism efforts when the attack happened. US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, emphasized that the ambush specifically targeted the joint patrol. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted on social media that the attacker was neutralized by local forces.
The names of the deceased will be kept private until their families have been informed. This attack marks the first of its kind since Islamist groups were involved in overthrowing the long-standing Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad last December, which has led to renewed ties between Syria and the United States.
A Pentagon official, who preferred to remain unnamed, indicated that the ambush occurred in an area where the Syrian government lacks control. Syrian state news reported that several others, including two Syrian soldiers, were wounded in the assault.
The troops were on a “joint field tour” in Palmyra, a city that was once under ISIS control. A Syrian military source mentioned that the shooting took place during a meeting involving both Syrian and American officers at their base in Palmyra. A local witness reported hearing the gunfire from within the base.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the discussions were part of an “American strategy to enhance its presence in the Syrian desert.” Helicopters later evacuated the injured to the Al-Tanf base in southern Syria, where US forces are stationed.
This incident follows recent diplomatic movements, including a visit by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Washington, where Damascus officially joined the US-led coalition against the Islamic State. Currently, US troops are stationed in the Kurdish-controlled northeast and at Al-Tanf, near the Jordanian border.
