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(The Hill) – U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on Saturday that a tragic incident in Syria resulted in the deaths of two American service members and a civilian, while several others sustained injuries during an ambush carried out by an ISIS-affiliated assailant.
“On Dec. 13, an attack by a solitary ISIS gunman led to the deaths of two U.S. service members and one civilian, and injured three additional service members in Syria,” CENTCOM announced on the social media platform X, adding that the attacker was subsequently neutralized.
“As a matter of respect for the families and in accordance with Department of War policy, the identities of the service members will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified,” the statement continues. “Updates will be provided as they become available.”
Troops were conducting a joint field patrol when they came under fire alongside Syrian security forces near the city of Palmyra, the SANA government explained in a post on X.
“The savage who perpetrated this attack was killed by partner forces,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote in a statement.
“Let it be known, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you,” he added.
A Pentagon official told The Hill’s sister network, NewsNation that the attack took place in an area not controlled by the Syrian government and said initial assessments show the attack was connected to ISIS.
The incident comes a year after former Syrian President Bashar Assad fled the country before opposition fighters entered Damascus. Assad sought asylum in Russia and signaled in a statement that he wanted to keep fighting.
