Two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter tragically lost their lives in Syria due to an attack by a suspected Islamic State (IS) militant, which targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces. The assailant was subsequently killed by partner troops, according to the U.S. military. This incident occurred shortly after the Syrian government announced a cooperation agreement with the U.S.-led coalition against IS, coinciding with President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington.
Local officials indicated that the attacker was linked to the Syrian security forces, although he did not hold a leadership role. The Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson, Noureddine el-Baba, shared that an evaluation of the attacker on December 10 suggested he might have extremist views, and a decision regarding his status was expected soon.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his condolences on his Truth Social platform, describing the assault as a “terrible” attack and pledging “very serious retaliation” in honor of the “three great patriots” lost. The attack also resulted in injuries to three U.S. soldiers and took place during a significant leader engagement in Palmyra, a region not controlled by the Syrian government.
Initial assessments indicate that the Islamic State likely coordinated the attack, although the group has not yet claimed responsibility. Baba noted that Syria had issued prior warnings about potential IS threats in the area, which coalition forces reportedly did not consider. He emphasized that investigations would determine whether the attacker had direct links to IS or merely supported its ideology.
The U.S. military has opted to withhold the names of the fallen soldiers until 24 hours after notifying their next of kin. Syrian state news agency SANA reported that two Syrian service members were also injured during the attack, with American helicopters transporting them to a U.S. base in Al-Tanf, located near the Iraqi border.
Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, condemned the attack, expressing his sorrow for the loss of American personnel and wishing a swift recovery for the wounded Syrian troops. He reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to combatting terrorism alongside their Syrian partners.
In recent months, the U.S.-led coalition has continued airstrikes and ground operations against IS suspects in Syria, often working in collaboration with local security forces. Additionally, Syrian authorities initiated a nationwide campaign last month that resulted in the arrest of over 70 individuals with alleged ties to the extremist group. The ongoing U.S. military presence in northeastern Syria reflects a commitment to supporting Kurdish-led forces and stabilizing the region in the face of persistent terrorist threats.