Syria’s interior ministry described a gunman who killed three Americans near Palmyra—the first fatal attack on U.S. troops under Syria’s new leadership—as a member of the Syrian security forces who was due to be dismissed for holding extremist views.
Two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed on Saturday, December 13th, when an attacker opened fire on a joint U.S.-Syrian patrol during a U.S.-backed counter-terrorism operation. The U.S. military said the assailant was linked to the Islamic State group and was killed at the scene.
Syrian officials said the suspect had served in the security forces for around 10 months. Following the attack, 11 members of the security services were arrested for questioning. Syrian soldiers wounded in the ambush were taken for treatment.
U.S. special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack condemned what he called a “cowardly terrorist ambush.” While initial reports described the attacker as a lone ISIS gunman, subsequent evidence has emerged of his ties to Syrian security forces.
The incident is the first to result in U.S. troop deaths since President Ahmed al Sharaa came to power. Both Washington and Damascus have said they want to prevent the attack from triggering wider escalation.
