Meta Description: Two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in Syria by a suspected Daesh attacker. Learn about the attack, US response, and Syrian involvement.
Focus Keywords: US soldiers killed Syria, Daesh attack Syria, US military news, Palmyra attack, Syria security forces, Trump retaliation, US-Syria news
Two US Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed on Saturday in a suspected Daesh attack targeting a convoy of American and Syrian forces in central Syria. According to the US military, the attacker was a member of the Syrian security forces. Local officials told Reuters that the man did not hold a leadership position, while a Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson confirmed that he had been flagged for potential extremist ideologies just a day before the attack.
The US military’s Central Command reported that three additional US soldiers were wounded during the attack. The assailant, a lone gunman, was killed by “partner forces” as the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement in the central Syrian town of Palmyra, according to a statement and social media post from US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. Initial assessments suggest that Daesh likely carried out the attack, though the militant group had not immediately claimed responsibility.
The attack took place in an area not fully controlled by the Syrian government. A Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson noted that Syria had previously warned coalition forces about the risk of a Daesh attack in the region, but the warnings were not reportedly acted upon. The Syrian authorities will investigate whether the attacker had direct links to Daesh or merely subscribed to its ideology. The names of the deceased US soldiers will be withheld until 24 hours after next-of-kin notifications.
President Donald Trump vowed retaliation following the attack, stating, “We will retaliate,” while highlighting on Truth Social that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed by this attack.” The incident also drew condemnation from US envoy Tom Barrack, who expressed sorrow for the loss of US personnel and wished a speedy recovery to the Syrian troops wounded during the attack. Barrack reaffirmed the US commitment to defeating terrorism in coordination with Syrian partners.
The attack occurred shortly after Syria signed a political cooperation agreement with the US-led coalition against Daesh, coinciding with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House. In recent months, the coalition has conducted airstrikes and ground operations in Syria targeting suspected Daesh members, often alongside Syrian security forces. Syria recently carried out a nationwide campaign resulting in the arrest of over 70 people accused of links to the group.
The United States maintains troops in northeastern Syria as part of a long-term effort to support Kurdish-led forces in counterterrorism operations against Daesh. The latest attack highlights the persistent risks in the region and underscores the ongoing collaboration between US and Syrian forces in combating extremist threats.