A Trio of Americans Fatally Wounded in Syria by Alleged Islamic State Gunman, US Defense Department Reports
A deadly attack in the heart of Syria on Saturday morning resulted in the loss of a pair of American troops and one American civilian interpreter, with several other people injured, according to the US Department of Defense.
This offensive on American forces in the historic city of Palmyra marks the initial event to inflict casualties since the fall of ex-leader Bashar al-Assad roughly a year ago.
"This assault took place while the service members were conducting a high-level meeting," an official said. "Their mission was in aid of ongoing anti-ISIS / counter-terrorism operations in the area."
The attacker behind the gunfire was eliminated by allied troops, as confirmed by a statement from the US defense secretary.
Details Withheld Out of Respect
US CENTCOM indicated that, to respect the privacy for the loved ones and in accordance with standard procedure, the names of the fallen service members will be withheld until a full day after their next of kin have been informed.
Initial accounts from local news agencies and a conflict observatory said that shots erupted during a visit by American troops to the area of Tadmur.
Conflicting Reports Surface
According to a state-run media outlet, two members of Syria's security force and a number of US service members were injured in the incident. The injured were reportedly evacuated by aircraft to a garrison near the border with Iraq and Jordan.
A spokesperson for Syria's interior ministry said a gunman affiliated with Islamic State began shooting at the entrance of a military post. Authorities are looking into whether the individual was a formal member of the organization or simply espoused its radical beliefs.
The official further refuted a claim from a UK-based rights group that the attacker was a member of the security forces.
Continued US Presence in Syria
The United States maintains a military presence stationed in Syria's east as a component of a multinational alliance combating the ISIS militant group.
Even after being militarily routed in Syria in 2019, the organization's sleeper cells still execute deadly attacks. United Nations assessments suggest the faction retains thousands of fighters in both Syria and Iraq.
American forces have previously been targeted in the before. One of the most severe previous attacks occurred in 2019 in the north, when an blast claimed the lives of American soldiers and two American civilians, among additional casualties.
