President Donald Trump promised "very serious retaliation" after an ambush near Palmyra, Syria, killed two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter and wounded three other American service members during an anti-ISIS mission, according to U.S. officials.
U.S. officials say an ambush near the historic city of Palmyra in central Syria on Saturday left two U.S. Army soldiers and one American civilian interpreter dead, and three additional U.S. soldiers wounded, during an operation linked to ongoing counter-ISIS and counter-terrorism efforts.
According to U.S. Central Command and Pentagon officials cited by multiple outlets, including CBS News and Fox News, the attack occurred as American personnel were conducting a key leader engagement with local counterparts in support of anti-ISIS operations in a volatile area that is not fully controlled by Syrian government forces. Initial assessments from the U.S. military describe the incident as an ambush carried out by a lone gunman believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State group; the attacker was later killed by partner forces.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement, reported by CBS News and other outlets, that "two U.S. Army soldiers and a U.S. civilian who was serving as an interpreter" were killed and three other service members were injured. He added that, in line with Defense Department policy, the names and unit information of the fallen would be withheld for 24 hours to allow next-of-kin notifications, and that the attack remains under active investigation.
President Trump responded publicly both in remarks to reporters and in a Truth Social post. In comments at the White House before departing for the Army–Navy football game in Baltimore, he said, "We mourn the loss of three great patriots in Syria … We still have three wounded that seem to be doing pretty well," according to accounts from CBS News and other news organizations. He characterized the incident as an ISIS attack and noted that Syrian forces were operating alongside U.S. troops.
In his Truth Social post, quoted by outlets including Fox News, Breitbart and Benzinga, Trump wrote: "We mourn the loss of three Great American Patriots in Syria, two soldiers, and one Civilian Interpreter. Likewise, we pray for the three injured soldiers who, it has just been confirmed, are doing well." He went on to describe the incident as "an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them," and said that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was "extremely angry and disturbed" by the assault. Trump concluded that "there will be very serious retaliation."
The Daily Herald and other outlets report that Syria’s state-run SANA news agency said the shooting took place near Palmyra and that two members of Syria’s security forces were also wounded. Those casualties, along with the three U.S. wounded, were flown by helicopter to the al-Tanf garrison near the border with Iraq and Jordan for treatment, U.S. officials said.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also addressed the attack. According to Newsweek and Time, Hegseth confirmed the deaths of the three Americans and said the gunman had been killed by partner forces. He issued a stern warning to any group or individual targeting Americans overseas, emphasizing that U.S. forces would pursue those responsible.
The incident highlights the enduring risks for U.S. personnel in Syria despite years of battlefield setbacks for ISIS. Although the group lost its territorial caliphate in Syria in 2019, U.S. and U.N. assessments cited by multiple outlets say ISIS sleeper cells remain active in both Syria and Iraq. The attack is the first to inflict U.S. fatalities in Syria since the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad and the rise of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and comes as Washington and Damascus seek closer cooperation against extremist groups.
