Three Americans Fatally Wounded in Syrian Territory by Suspected Islamic State Gunman, Pentagon Says
A deadly ambush in the heart of Syria on Saturday morning resulted in the loss of two US army soldiers and one American civilian interpreter, with a number of others wounded, as stated by the US Department of Defense.
This offensive on US troops in the historic city of Tadmur represents the first incident to cause fatalities since the fall of ex-leader Bashar al-Assad roughly a year prior.
"The attack took place while the service members were carrying out a high-level meeting," a Pentagon spokesperson stated. "The operation was in support of on-going anti-ISIS / counter-terrorism missions in the region."
The assailant behind the gunfire was killed by allied troops, according to a declaration from the Secretary of Defense.
Specifics Withheld For Privacy
US CENTCOM noted that, to respect the privacy for the families and in accordance with standard procedure, the identities of the deceased personnel will not be released until 24 hours after their families have been informed.
Earlier reports from Syrian state media and a conflict observatory said that shots rang out during a tour by US soldiers to the area of Palmyra.
Varying Reports Surface
According to a government media outlet, two members of local security forces and several US personnel were injured in the incident. The injured were allegedly transported by aircraft to a garrison near the border with Iraq and Jordan.
An official for Syria's interior ministry claimed a gunman linked to ISIS opened fire at the entrance of a army position. Officials are investigating whether the assailant was a formal member of the group or merely adhered to its extreme ideology.
This spokesperson also refuted a report from a UK-based rights group that the attacker was a member of the security forces.
Ongoing American Deployment in the Region
The US maintains a military presence stationed in eastern Syria as a component of a broader coalition combating the Islamic State.
Despite being militarily routed in Syria in 2019, the organization's dormant networks continue to carry out lethal strikes. UN assessments suggest the faction still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
US troops have been attacked in the before. Among the deadliest previous attacks occurred in 2019 in the north, when an explosion claimed the lives of American soldiers and two American civilians, among others.