A Trio of US Citizens Killed in Syrian Territory by Alleged ISIS Gunman, US Defense Department Reports
A fatal ambush in the heart of Syria on Saturday resulted in the deaths of two US army soldiers and one American civilian interpreter, with a number of others injured, according to the Pentagon.
This offensive on US troops in the historic city of Tadmur marks the first event to cause fatalities following the fall of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad roughly a year prior.
"This assault took place while the service members were carrying out a high-level meeting," a Pentagon spokesperson said. "The operation was in support of on-going anti-ISIS / counter-terrorism operations in the area."
The assailant behind the gunfire was eliminated by partner forces, as confirmed by a declaration from the US defense secretary.
Details Kept Private Out of Respect
Central Command indicated that, to respect the privacy for the families and in line with standard procedure, the identities of the deceased personnel will be withheld until a full day after their next of kin have been notified.
Initial accounts from local news agencies and a conflict observatory said that shots rang out during a visit by US soldiers to the central town of Palmyra.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
Per a state-run media outlet, two members of Syria's security force and a number of US service members were wounded in the incident. Those hurt were reportedly transported by helicopters to a military base near the border with neighboring countries.
An official for the Syrian government said a shooter affiliated with ISIS opened fire at the gate of a army position. Authorities are investigating whether the individual was a formal member of the group or simply adhered to its radical beliefs.
This spokesperson also refuted a claim from a UK-based rights group that the gunman was a member of the security forces.
Continued American Deployment in the Region
The United States currently has hundreds of troops stationed in Syria's east as part of a broader coalition fighting the ISIS militant group.
Even after being militarily routed in the country in 2019, the organization's dormant networks continue to carry out lethal strikes. United Nations assessments indicate the faction retains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
US troops have previously been attacked in the before. One of the most severe previous attacks took place in that year in northern Syria, when an explosion killed American soldiers and two American civilians, among others.
