Two US troopers and a US civilian interpreter have been killed in Syria in an ambush by an Islamic State (IS) gunman, the US Central Command has mentioned.
Officers mentioned three different service members had been injured within the assault, throughout which the gunman was “engaged and killed”.
US President Donald Trump wrote on social media that it was “an ISIS assault” towards the US and Syria and mentioned there could be “a really critical retaliation”. The Syrian authorities has issued a press release condemning the assault.
The identities of these killed are being withheld for twenty-four hours till their subsequent of kin have been knowledgeable, the US Central Command mentioned.
In a put up on X, the US Central Command, which directs American army operations in Europe, Africa and the Indo-Pacific, mentioned the assault was “the results of an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman”, whereas a Pentagon official mentioned preliminary assessments confirmed the assault was “possible” to be carried out by the Islamic State group.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights mentioned the attacker was a member of the Syrian safety power.
No group has claimed duty for the assault, and the identification of the gunman has not been launched.
The ambush occurred in Palmyra, positioned within the centre of the nation, whereas the troopers had been “conducting a key chief engagement”, based on Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.
He added the assault is beneath investigation.
A Pentagon official mentioned: “This assault happened in an space the place the Syrian president doesn’t have management.”
Trump added that the three injured US troopers had been “doing nicely”. Syria’s state information reported that two Syrian service personnel had additionally been injured.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned: “Let it’s identified, when you goal Individuals – anyplace on this planet you’ll spend the remainder of your transient, anxious life realizing the USA will hunt you, discover you, and ruthlessly kill you.”
In a put up on X, Syria’s International Minister Asaad al-Shaibani mentioned the nation condemned the assault, and prolonged its condolences to the households of the victims.
Tom Barrack, US ambassador to Turkey and particular envoy for Syria, mentioned: “I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist ambush concentrating on a joint US–Syrian authorities patrol in central Syria.
“We stay dedicated to defeating terrorism with our Syrian companions.”
Final month, President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Donald Trump on the White Home in a go to that the Syrian chief mentioned was a part of a “new period” for the 2 international locations.
Syria not too long ago joined a global coalition to fight IS and has pledged to co-operate with the US.
The worldwide coalition is aimed toward eliminating the remaining parts of the so-called Islamic State and stemming the stream of international militants to the Center East.
In 2019, a US-backed alliance of Syrian fighters introduced IS had misplaced the final pocket of territory in Syria it managed, however since then the jihadist group has carried out some assaults.
The United Nations says the group nonetheless has between 5,000 and seven,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
US troops have maintained a presence in Syria since 2015 to assist prepare different forces as a part of a marketing campaign towards IS.
