Deadly attack in Syria targets joint US syrian counterterrorism patrol

Two United States soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed on Saturday in central Syria after an attacker linked to the Islamic State group opened fire on a joint patrol involving American and Syrian forces, according to US and Syrian officials. The incident marks a significant escalation in violence and comes at a sensitive moment in the evolving relationship between Washington and Damascus.

The attack occurred near the ancient city of Palmyra, an area once held by the Islamic State during the height of its territorial control. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the troops were taking part in counterterrorism activities when they were ambushed by a lone gunman affiliated with the extremist group. The assailant was later killed during an exchange of fire.

US President Donald Trump confirmed the deaths in a statement, expressing condolences to the families and describing the victims as patriots. He said the United States would respond decisively to the attack, warning that retaliation would be severe. Trump also said that three other American troops wounded in the incident were recovering well.

According to US Central Command, the patrol was conducting an engagement with local leadership as part of efforts to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State cells in the region. US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said the victims were part of a joint US Syrian government patrol, underscoring the growing cooperation between the two countries following recent political changes in Damascus.

Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani strongly condemned the attack, offering condolences to the families of the victims and to the American people. He described the incident as a terrorist act and reaffirmed Syria’s commitment to working with international partners to combat extremist groups operating in its territory.

Syrian officials said the shooting took place at or near a military facility in Palmyra during a meeting between Syrian and American officers. A witness in the area reported hearing gunfire coming from inside the base. However, a US defense official said the attack occurred in a zone where the Syrian government does not exercise full control, highlighting ongoing security gaps in the vast desert region.

The Syrian Interior Ministry said it had issued earlier warnings about possible infiltration by Islamic State fighters in the desert and suggested that these alerts were not fully acted upon by coalition forces. The group continues to operate in small cells, carrying out sporadic attacks despite having lost its territorial stronghold years ago.

Syrian state media reported that helicopters were dispatched to evacuate the wounded troops to the Al Tanf base in southern Syria, where US forces remain stationed as part of the international coalition fighting the Islamic State.

The incident is the first deadly attack against US personnel reported since Islamist led forces removed former president Bashar al Assad in December last year, an event that reshaped Syria’s political landscape and reopened diplomatic engagement with Washington. Trump said Syria’s new president Ahmed al Sharaa was deeply angered by the attack and shared US concerns about extremist violence.

While the Islamic State no longer controls territory in Syria, analysts warn that continued instability and ungoverned spaces provide opportunities for the group to regroup. The deaths underscore the risks facing foreign and local forces as they attempt to secure the country and prevent a resurgence of extremist violence.