A file image of US soldiers in Syria. PHOTO: AFP
Two US Army soldiers and an American civilian interpreter were killed in an ambush by an Islamic State (ISIS) gunman in central Syria on Saturday, the Pentagon said, marking the first deadly attack on US forces since Syria’s political transition late last year.
The attack took place in the ancient city of Palmyra, where US troops were supporting counterterrorism operations.
Three other people were wounded, according to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the assailant was later killed by partner forces.
The savage who perpetrated this attack was killed by partner forces.
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. https://t.co/P7D9NrWpAL
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) December 13, 2025
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the casualties resulted from “an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman,” adding that the attacker was engaged and neutralised. The command oversees US military operations across the Middle East.
Syrian state media had earlier reported that American and Syrian troops were wounded in an attack in Palmyra. The state news agency SANA, citing a security source, said the soldiers were on a “joint field tour” in the area, which was once a stronghold of ISIS.
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Parnell said the US soldiers were conducting a “key leader engagement” as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts when they came under attack.
Syria’s Interior Ministry suggested that warnings had been issued ahead of the incident. Ministry spokesman Anwar al-Baba told state television that internal security services had alerted allied forces to the risk of ISIS infiltration in the desert region, but said those warnings were not acted upon.
A Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attack occurred in an area beyond the control of the Syrian presidency.
The incident comes a year after the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, an event that reshaped Syria’s political landscape and led to a tentative re-engagement with the United States. Despite the territorial defeat of ISIS, the group continues to stage sporadic attacks, particularly in Syria’s central desert regions.
