A Trio of Americans Fatally Wounded in Syrian Territory by Suspected ISIS Assailant, US Defense Department Says

A fatal ambush in central Syria on Saturday resulted in the loss of two US army soldiers and one American civilian interpreter, with several other people injured, as stated by the US Department of Defense.

The assault on US troops in the ancient city of Tadmur marks the initial event to inflict casualties following the fall of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad roughly a year ago.

"The attack occurred as the soldiers were carrying out a high-level meeting," a Pentagon spokesperson said. "The operation was in support of ongoing anti-ISIS / anti-terror missions in the area."

The attacker behind the gunfire was eliminated by allied troops, as confirmed by a statement from the Secretary of Defense.

Details Kept Private For Privacy

Central Command indicated that, as a matter of respect for the families and in accordance with policy, the identities of the deceased personnel will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been informed.

Earlier reports from Syrian state media and a war monitor said that gunfire erupted during a visit by US soldiers to the area of Tadmur.

Varying Accounts Emerge

Per a state-run news agency, a pair of Syria's security force and a number of US service members were wounded in the exchange. Those hurt were reportedly evacuated by helicopters to a garrison near the frontier with Iraq and Jordan.

An official for the Syrian government claimed a gunman linked to Islamic State opened fire at the gate of a military post. Authorities are investigating whether the individual was a formal member of the organization or merely espoused its extreme ideology.

This spokesperson further refuted a claim from a Britain-based rights group that the gunman was a member of the security forces.

Ongoing American Deployment in the Region

The US maintains hundreds of troops stationed in eastern Syria as a component of a broader coalition fighting the ISIS militant group.

Even after being militarily routed in the country in 2019, the group's dormant networks continue to execute lethal strikes. United Nations assessments indicate the faction retains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.

American forces have been targeted in the past. One of the most severe prior incidents occurred in 2019 in northern Syria, when an blast claimed the lives of American soldiers and two American civilians, among others.