Three Americans — two soldiers and one civilian interpreter — were gunned down Saturday by an Islamic State terrorist in Syria, the Pentagon said, with three U.S. service members wounded in what officials called an ambush.
U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, said the identities of the casualties are being withheld until the families have been notified.
The attack took place in Palmyra, northeast of the Syrian capital of Damascus.
The Pentagon said the attack was carried out by a single gunman, who was then “engaged and killed” by U.S. partner forces.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said on social media that the troops were conducting a “key leader engagement” at the time as part of U.S. counterterrorism operations.
In a post on X, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned against any further attacks on American personnel.
“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 said.
The U.S. has fewer than 1,000 troops stationed in Syria.
The deadly incident could complicate the Trump administration’s approach in Syria, where President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took over a year ago after the ouster of longtime dictator Bashar Assad, has been trying to cultivate closer ties to the U.S.
Mr. al-Sharaa visited the White House last month. Some lawmakers and national security analysts have raised concerns about the Syrian leader’s past ties to the terror group al Qaeda.
