US service members, civilian killed in Syria ambush attack: CENTCOM
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed Saturday that two U.S. service members and one civilian were killed, and several others injured, after a gunman tied to ISIS launched an ambush.
“On Dec. 13, two U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian were killed, and three service members were injured, as a result of an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman in Syria,” CENTCOM wrote on social platform X. “The gunman was engaged and killed.”
“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.”
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) said on Saturday night that the two dead service members were Iowa National Guard soldiers. Three other Iowa Guard members were wounded, according to the governor’s release.
Troops were conducting a joint field patrol when they came under fire alongside Syrian security forces near the city of Palmyra, SANA, the government backed news agency, 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.
President Trump on Saturday vowed to respond to the attack, telling reporters “we will retaliate” against ISIS and others who attack U.S. service members. He also expressed remorse for the loss of “three great patriots.”
The United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least three Syrian security members were also wounded, according to The Associated Press. The organization alleged the attacker was a member of the Syrian security force.
A Pentagon official told The Hill that “this attack took place in an area where the Syrian President does not have control.”
“The attack occurred as the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement. Their mission was in support of on-going counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism operations in the region,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell wrote on X. “The soldiers’ names, as well as identifying information about their units, are being withheld until 24 hours after the next of kin notification.”
“This attack is currently under active investigation,” he added.
The ambush 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.
After the fall of the Assad regime, opposition leader Ahmed al-Sharaa took the reins of Syria’s government. In September, he made his debut at the United Nations as the first leader of the nation to address the global body in nearly 60 years.
Last month, al-Sharaa met with Trump at the White House. The president has taken a leading role in backing the new regime, as the leader shared his desire to make Syria a friendly country after decades of war and terrorism.
Updated at 9:41 p.m. EST.
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