DAMASCUS: Syria’s interior ministry said on Sunday that the gunman who killed three Americans in the central Palmyra region on Saturday was a member of the Serian security forces due to be dismissed for extremism. The attack claimed the lives of two U.S. troops and a civilian interpreter.
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Interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said the gunman had been set to be fired on Sunday for holding “extremist Islamist ideas.” Syrian authorities described the attack as a “terrorist incident,” while Washington said the gunman was linked to the Islamic State (IS) group.
ISIS gunman ambushed, killed 2 soldiers and one interpreter in Palmyra, Syria:
” We mourn the loss of three Great American Patriots in Syria “.-@realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/QmH3zoxSaq— Mmir (@m86742) December 13, 2025
🚨🇸🇾🇹🇷 According to new intelligence, the terrorist who ambushed and killed three Americans in Palmyra, Syria, today was a senior security official in Jolani’s regime who had received training in Turkey and been endorsed by Turkish intelligence. pic.twitter.com/EjBkf33XOJ
— Terror Alarm (@Terror_Alarm) December 13, 2025
A Syrian security official said 11 members of the general security forces were arrested for questioning after the attack. The gunman had served in the security forces for more than 10 months and had been posted to multiple cities before being transferred to Palmyra, home to UNESCO-listed ancient ruins. Palmyra was once controlled by IS during its territorial expansion in Syria.
The attack occurred during a meeting between Syrian and American officers at a Syrian base. Syrian officials said U.S. forces had arrived from the Al-Tanf military base in southeastern Syria and toured Palmyra and the T-4 airbase before the incident. Pentagon officials noted that the shooting took place in an area outside Syrian government control.
🇺🇸🇸🇾 ATTACKER WHO KILLED 3 AMERICANS WAS A SYRIAN SECURITY FORCE MEMBER WITH ISIS ROOTS
In the Palmyra ambush that took out 2 Iowa National Guard soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter:
The lone gunman was Tariq Satouf al-Hamd, a Syrian government security force member with… pic.twitter.com/DjMzpel6Dr
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 15, 2025
In response, Syrian authorities launched operations against IS cells across Homs province. U.S. Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said the attack reinforced U.S. efforts to support capable Syrian partners in counter-terrorism operations and prevent IS resurgence.
President Donald Trump called the incident “an ISIS attack against the U.S. and Syria” and promised “very serious retaliation.” Three other U.S. troops wounded in the attack were reported to be recovering. Syrian officials said two security personnel were also injured.
Read More: Two US soldiers, one interpreter killed in Syria, says Pentagon
Syria formally joined the U.S.-led coalition against IS last month, during President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington. U.S. forces remain deployed in northeastern Syria and at Al-Tanf near the Jordanian border.