Three U.S. Military Members Killed in Syria Ambush

Three members of the U.S. military, including two soldiers and a civilian interpreter, were killed on Saturday in an ambush targeting their convoy in central Syria. The attack, which also left three U.S. soldiers injured, occurred in the town of Palmyra as the military personnel were engaging with local leaders, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command.

The assailant, identified as a member of the Syrian security forces, was subsequently killed by partner forces. In a social media post, U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth confirmed the death of the attacker, though local officials informed Reuters that he did not hold a leadership position within the security apparatus. A spokesperson for the Syrian Interior Ministry, Noureddine el-Baba, revealed that an evaluation regarding the attacker had been issued on December 10, suggesting he may have harbored extremist views.

While Syrian officials downplayed the attack, U.S. intelligence assessments suggest a connection to ISIS. A senior U.S. official indicated that the incident likely involved militants from the group, particularly as it unfolded in an area beyond the control of the Syrian government. In response to the incident, U.S. President Donald Trump stated on social media that “we will retaliate” against ISIS, although the militant organization has yet to claim responsibility for the ambush.

The U.S. military has withheld the names of the deceased personnel pending notification of their next of kin. Reports from the Syrian state news agency, SANA, noted that two Syrian service members were also injured, with American helicopters transporting them to a U.S. base in the Al-Tanf region, situated near the Iraqi border.

Ambassador Tom Barrack, the U.S. envoy to Turkey and special representative for Syria, expressed condolences for the loss of the American personnel. He stated, “We mourn the loss of three brave U.S. service members and civilian personnel and wish a speedy recovery to the Syrian troops wounded in the attack. We remain committed to defeating terrorism with our Syrian partners.”

This ambush occurs just weeks after Syria announced a political cooperation agreement with the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, coinciding with President Ahmed al-Sharaa‘s visit to the White House. The coalition has been actively conducting airstrikes and ground operations in Syria aimed at eliminating ISIS threats, often in conjunction with Syrian security forces. Last month, Syrian authorities also initiated a nationwide campaign, leading to the arrest of over 70 individuals suspected of links to the terrorist group.

The U.S. maintains a military presence in northeastern Syria, part of a long-standing effort to support local Kurdish-led forces in combating ISIS and ensuring regional stability.