Two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter lost their lives in Syria due to an attack by a suspected Islamic State (IS) militant, who targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces before being killed by partner troops, according to the U.S. military. This tragic incident occurred shortly after the Syrian government announced a cooperation agreement with the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, coinciding with President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington.
Local officials reported that the assailant was affiliated with the Syrian security forces, though he did not hold a leadership position within that organization. Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson Noureddine el-Baba revealed that an evaluation was conducted on December 10 regarding the attacker, indicating he might have held extremist views, with a decision regarding his status expected shortly.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his condolences on his Truth Social platform, labeling the incident a “terrible” attack and pledging “very serious retaliation” in remembrance of the “three great patriots” lost. The attack, which also injured three U.S. soldiers, took place during a key leader engagement in Palmyra, an area not under Syrian government control.
Initial assessments suggest that the Islamic State likely orchestrated the attack, although the group has yet to claim responsibility. Baba stated that while Syria had issued warnings regarding potential Islamic State threats in the region, coalition forces allegedly did not heed these alerts. He noted that Syria would evaluate whether the attacker had direct ties to IS or simply subscribed to its ideology.
The U.S. military will withhold the names of the deceased soldiers until 24 hours following next-of-kin notifications. Additionally, Syrian state news agency SANA reported that two Syrian service members sustained injuries during the assault, and American helicopters transported the wounded to a U.S. base in Al-Tanf, near the Iraqi border.
Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, condemned the assault, expressing sorrow for the loss of the American personnel and wishing quick recovery for the wounded Syrian troops. He reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to combating terrorism alongside their Syrian partners.
In recent months, the U.S.-led coalition has conducted airstrikes and ground operations targeting Islamic State suspects in Syria, often with the collaboration of local security forces. Notably, Syrian authorities launched a nationwide campaign last month, arresting over 70 individuals with alleged affiliations to the extremist group. The ongoing U.S. military presence in northeastern Syria reflects a decade-long mission to support a Kurdish-led force in the region, demonstrating continued efforts to stabilize the area and combat terrorist threats.