A Trio of Americans Killed in Syrian Territory by Suspected ISIS Assailant, US Defense Department Reports
A deadly ambush in the heart of Syria on Saturday resulted in the deaths of a pair of American troops and one American civilian interpreter, with several other people wounded, as stated by the US Department of Defense.
The assault on American forces in the ancient city of Tadmur represents the initial event to cause fatalities following the ouster of ex-leader Bashar al-Assad roughly a year ago.
"The attack occurred as the soldiers were carrying out a high-level meeting," an official said. "The operation was in support of on-going counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism operations in the region."
The assailant responsible for the gunfire was killed by allied troops, as confirmed by a statement from the Secretary of Defense.
Specifics Withheld Out of Respect
US CENTCOM indicated that, to respect the privacy for the loved ones and in accordance with standard procedure, the names of the deceased personnel will not be released until a full day after their next of kin have been notified.
Earlier reports from Syrian state media and a conflict observatory said that shots erupted during a tour by American troops to the central town of Palmyra.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
According to a state-run media outlet, a pair of Syria's security force and a number of US personnel were wounded in the exchange. Those hurt were reportedly evacuated by aircraft to a garrison near the border with neighboring countries.
An official for Syria's interior ministry claimed a gunman linked to ISIS began shooting at the entrance of a army position. Officials are investigating whether the individual was a card-carrying member of the group or simply espoused its extreme ideology.
The official further refuted a claim from a Britain-based rights group that the attacker was a security member.
Continued US Presence in Syria
The US currently has hundreds of troops deployed in eastern Syria as a component of a broader coalition fighting the Islamic State.
Even after being declared defeated in the country in 2019, the group's sleeper cells continue to carry out deadly attacks. United Nations assessments indicate the faction retains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both Syria and Iraq.
American forces have previously been targeted in the past. One of the most severe previous attacks occurred in 2019 in northern Syria, when an explosion claimed the lives of two US service members and US civilians, among others.
