An Islamic State ambush on a joint patrol in central Syria killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter on Saturday, underscoring the persistent danger facing American forces operating in a country where the terrorist group’s remnants remain active and lethal.
According to U.S. officials, the attack occurred in the ancient desert city of Palmyra during a routine patrol involving U.S.-led coalition forces supporting counterterrorism operations against ISIS. Three additional Americans were wounded in the assault, along with two members of Syria’s security forces. The wounded were evacuated by American helicopters to the Al-Tanf base in southeastern Syria, Syrian state media reported.
The Pentagon confirmed that the Americans killed were engaged in counterterrorism missions at the time of the attack. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the assailant was neutralized by allied forces at the scene. Subsequent investigations revealed a more troubling detail: the attacker was a member of Syria’s own security apparatus, writes The Jerusalem Post.
Three local Syrian officials told reporters that the assailant belonged to Syrian security forces, a revelation that raised immediate questions about infiltration, radicalization, and internal security failures. A spokesperson for the Syrian Interior Ministry, speaking on state television channel Al-Ikhbariya, sought to limit the damage, stating that “the attacker did not have a leadership role in the security forces.” The spokesperson declined to clarify whether the individual held a lower-ranking position.
U.S. Central Command later verified that the attacker was affiliated with the Islamic State terrorist organization, reinforcing concerns that ISIS continues to exploit instability and weak institutional controls in parts of Syria that remain contested or only loosely governed.
The identities of the fallen U.S. service members have not yet been released. Officials said their names are being withheld for 24 hours to allow time for notification of their families.
U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack condemned the attack in forceful terms, framing it as an assault not only on American personnel but on the fragile cooperation underpinning counterterrorism efforts in the region. “I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist ambush targeting a joint U.S.–Syrian government patrol in central Syria. We mourn the loss of three brave U.S. service members and civilian personnel and wish a speedy recovery to the Syrian troops wounded in the attack. We remain committed to defeating terrorism with our Syrian partners,” Barrack said.
Today’s cowardly terrorist ambush on U.S. personnel in Syria, which claimed the lives of two brave American soldiers and a dedicated civilian interpreter, is a stark and outrageous reminder that terrorism remains a vicious and persistent threat, capable of striking even as we…
— Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) December 13, 2025
Hegseth delivered an even sharper warning, emphasizing that the United States would respond decisively to any attack on its 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,” the defense secretary said.
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
President Donald Trump also weighed in, mourning the dead and signaling retaliation. “We mourn the loss of three Great American Patriots in Syria, two soldiers, and one Civilian Interpreter. Likewise, we pray for the three injured soldiers who, it has just been confirmed, are doing well,” Trump said.
“We mourn the loss of three Great American Patriots in Syria, two soldiers, and one Civilian Interpreter. Likewise, we pray for the three injured soldiers who, it has just been confirmed, are doing well. This was an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous… pic.twitter.com/uK3t5dlMfL
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 13, 2025
He added: “This was an ISIS attack against the US and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria that is not fully controlled by them. The President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack. There will be very serious retaliation. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The attack serves as a stark reminder that, despite years of coalition airstrikes, raids, and intelligence operations, ISIS remains capable of mounting deadly assaults.
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