A lone Islamic State gunman killed two U.S. service members and an American civilian in an ambush near historic Palmyra on Saturday, marking the first U.S. casualties in Syria since the fall of President Bashar Assad a year ago.
Casualties and Attack Details
Central Command said the ambush was carried out by a lone member of the Islamic State group. Two U.S. service members and one American civilian were killed, and three other people were wounded. The attack occurred near Palmyra, according to the state‑run SANA news agency.
Central Command posted on X that, “as a matter of respect for the families and in accordance with Department of Defense policy, the identities of the service members will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified.”
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X: “Let it be known, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you.”
The wounded were taken by helicopter to the al‑Tanf garrison near the border with Iraq and Jordan.
Attacker’s Fate and Attribution
SANA said the attacker was killed, but did not provide further details. The Britain‑based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attacker was a member of the Syrian security force.
Context: U.S. Presence and Recent Developments
The United States has hundreds of troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting the Islamic State group. Last month, Syria joined the international coalition against IS as Damascus improves its relations with Western countries following the ouster of Assad when insurgents captured his seat of power in Damascus.
The U.S. had no diplomatic relations with Syria under Assad, but ties have warmed since the fall of the five‑decade Assad family rule. Interim president Ahmad al‑Sharaa made a historic visit to Washington last month where he held talks with President Donald Trump.
Islamic State was defeated on the battlefield in Syria in 2019, but the group’s sleeper cells still carry out deadly attacks in the country. The United Nations says the group still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
U.S. troops have maintained a presence in different parts of Syria, including the al‑Tanf garrison in the central province of Homs, to train other forces as part of a broad campaign against IS. One of the deadliest attacks occurred in 2019 in the northern town of Manbij when a blast killed two U.S. service members and two American civilians as well as others from Syria while conducting a patrol.
Key Takeaways
- Two U.S. service members and one American civilian were killed in an IS ambush near Palmyra.
- The attack is the first U.S. casualty in Syria since Assad fell.
- The U.S. has hundreds of troops in eastern Syria, and recent diplomatic ties have improved with Damascus.
The incident underscores the ongoing threat of Islamic State sleeper cells and the continued U.S. military presence in Syria as part of the coalition against IS.
