PALMYRA, Syria – Two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed Saturday in Syria by a suspected Islamic State attacker targeting a convoy of American and Syrian forces.
The gunman, reportedly a member of Syrian security forces, was shot dead by partner forces after the attack, which also wounded three other U.S. soldiers during a key leader engagement in Palmyra.
Syrian officials said the attacker had been flagged for extremist tendencies days before the incident, with a decision on his status expected the following day, highlighting concerns over insider threats in conflict zones.
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President Donald Trump condemned the attack as “terrible” and vowed “very serious retaliation,” mourning the loss of the three U.S. personnel, while U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed the attacker was neutralized.
The incident occurred shortly after Syria signed a political cooperation agreement with the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, coinciding with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s recent visit to Washington, indicating ongoing regional security challenges.
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U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, condemned the attack, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to defeating terrorism alongside Syrian partner forces while supporting wounded personnel in the region.
The U.S.-led coalition continues operations against Islamic State in northeastern Syria, including airstrikes and ground missions, as American troops remain deployed to assist Kurdish-led forces and counter militant threats across volatile areas.