President Donald Trump declared that the U.S. plans to implement “very serious retaliation” following the death of two U.S. service members and one American civilian interpreter in Syria, a situation attributed to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The attack, which took place on Saturday, was described by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell as an ambush occurring during a key mission for the soldiers supporting counter-ISIS and counter-terrorism efforts in the area.
U.S. Central Command reported that the attack was executed by a lone ISIS gunman, who was subsequently engaged and killed.
Aside from the fatalities, three additional U.S. service members suffered injuries, and reports suggest that two members of Syria’s security force were also harmed in the incident.
In response, President Trump expressed his condolences for the American lives lost. In a post on Truth Social, he highlighted the bravery of the deceased, labeling them as “Great American Patriots,” and noted that the injured service members are expected to recover.
Trump characterized the event as an ISIS-endorsed attack. He emphasized that the Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was notably upset about the ambush, asserting that “there will be very serious retaliation.”
Despite Trump’s strong warning, War Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the perpetrator was neutralized by allied forces.
Hegseth made it clear that targeting Americans would lead to relentless pursuit and retribution by the U.S.
On Sunday, Trump reiterated that ISIS was behind the attack, distancing it from the Syrian government, which he claimed had fought alongside U.S. forces.
The incident occurred near Palmyra, situated about 150 miles northeast of Damascus, and marks the first U.S. troop fatalities since the Syrian regime under President Bashar Assad fell a year ago.
Under Trump’s administration, efforts have been made to establish a relationship with al-Sharaa, who previously had ties to terrorism but asserts a new stance. Notably, the State Department lifted his terror designation prior to his visit to the White House last month, reflecting U.S. support for his regime.
Currently, around 1,500 U.S. troops remain in Syria, following earlier withdrawals linked to the Assad regime’s decline.
