A Trio of US Citizens Killed in Syrian Territory by Alleged Islamic State Gunman, US Defense Department Says
A fatal attack in central Syria on Saturday morning led to the deaths of two US army soldiers and a US civilian translator, with a number of others wounded, according to the US Department of Defense.
This offensive on American forces in the ancient town of Tadmur represents the first incident to cause fatalities following the ouster of ex-leader Bashar al-Assad roughly a year ago.
"This assault occurred as the service members were carrying out a high-level meeting," an official stated. "The operation was in support of on-going counter-ISIS / anti-terror operations in the region."
The assailant responsible for the shooting was killed by partner forces, according to a statement from the Secretary of Defense.
Specifics Kept Private Out of Respect
Central Command indicated that, to respect the privacy for the loved ones and in accordance with standard procedure, the identities of the fallen service members will not be released until 24 hours after their families have been notified.
Initial accounts from local news agencies and a war monitor stated that shots rang out during a visit by US soldiers to the central town of Palmyra.
Conflicting Reports Surface
Per a government news agency, two members of local security forces and a number of US personnel were injured in the exchange. The injured were reportedly transported by aircraft to a garrison near the frontier with neighboring countries.
An official for Syria's interior ministry claimed a shooter linked to ISIS began shooting at the gate of a army position. Officials are investigating whether the assailant was a formal member of the group or simply espoused its radical beliefs.
This spokesperson further denied a claim from a UK-based rights group that the attacker was a security member.
Ongoing US Presence in the Region
The United States maintains hundreds of troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a multinational alliance fighting the Islamic State.
Despite being militarily routed in Syria in 2019, the group's dormant networks continue to execute lethal strikes. United Nations assessments indicate the faction still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
American forces have been attacked in the past. One of the most severe prior incidents took place in 2019 in northern Syria, when an explosion killed American soldiers and two American civilians, among others.