Tragic Ambush in Syria: Three Americans Killed by ISIS Gunman

Sun Dec 14 2025 23:36:24 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a recent attack in Syria, a US gunman affiliated with ISIS killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter, sparking outrage and promises of retaliation from US officials.

A lone Islamic State gunman ambushed a group of US service members in Syria, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and a civilian interpreter. The incident, which took place near Palmyra, has prompted strong condemnation from US and Syrian officials and calls for retaliation against the attackers. As investigations continue, the identities of the victims are being withheld until family notifications.

Two US soldiers and a US civilian interpreter have been killed in Syria in an ambush by an Islamic State (IS) gunman, the US Central Command (Centcom) has said.

Officials said three other service members were injured in the attack, during which the gunman was engaged and killed. Syria's state news said two Syrian service personnel were also injured.

US President Donald Trump wrote on social media that it was an ISIS attack against the US and Syria and said there would be a very serious retaliation. The Syrian government has issued a statement condemning the attack.

The identities of those killed are being withheld for 24 hours until their next of kin have been informed, Centcom said.

In a post on X, Centcom stated that the attack was the result of an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman, while a Pentagon official indicated that initial assessments showed the attack was likely to be carried out by the Islamic State group.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the attacker was a member of the Syrian security force.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the identity of the gunman has not been released. The ambush occurred in Palmyra, located in the center of the country, during a key leadership meeting, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.

The attack is currently under investigation. A Pentagon official noted that the assault happened in an area where the Syrian president does not have control.

Trump confirmed that the three injured US soldiers were doing well.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declared, 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.

Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani condemned the attack and extended condolences to the victims' families.

Tom Barrack, US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, said he strongly condemned the cowardly terrorist ambush targeting a joint US-Syrian patrol. He reaffirmed their commitment to defeating terrorism alongside their Syrian partners.

This incident occurs amid a backdrop of newly forged collaborative efforts between the US and Syria to combat IS, as Syria recently joined an international coalition aimed at eliminating the remaining elements of the jihadist group.

Despite the loss of IS territory in 2019, the UN suggests that the group still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq. US troops have been present in Syria since 2015 to assist in training local forces against IS.