Deadly ISIS ambush kills two U.S. Soldiers, Civilian in Central Syria

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed Saturday that two American service members and one U.S. civilian, identified in reports as an interpreter, were killed in an ambush by a lone gunman affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) in central Syria.

Three additional U.S. service members were injured in the attack, which occurred near the historic city of Palmyra during a joint operation with Syrian forces.

The gunman was “engaged and killed” by partner forces, according to CENTCOM’s statement. Identities of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin, in line with Department of Defense policy.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell described the incident as taking place during a “key leader engagement” in support of ongoing counter-ISIS and counter-terrorism operations.

Initial assessments indicate the attacker was likely linked to ISIS, though some reports suggest he may have been embedded within Syrian security forces.

The ambush marks the first U.S. combat fatalities in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2024, highlighting the persistent threat posed by ISIS remnants despite the group’s territorial defeat in 2019.

The United Nations estimates ISIS still maintains 5,000 to 7,000 fighters across Syria and Iraq, capable of conducting sporadic attacks in remote desert regions.

U.S. Leadership Vows Retaliation President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House, called the incident “an ISIS attack against the U.S. and Syria in a very dangerous part of Syria that is not fully controlled by them.”

He stated that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is “extremely angry and disturbed” by the attack and pledged “very serious retaliation.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the sentiment, warning that those targeting Americans “will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you.”

The attack unfolded amid evolving U.S.-Syrian cooperation following Assad’s ouster. U.S. forces, numbering fewer than 1,000 after drawdowns earlier in 2025, have increasingly partnered with the new Syrian government on counter-ISIS missions, including joint patrols and intelligence sharing.

Syrian state media reported that two Syrian security personnel were also injured, and U.S. helicopters evacuated the wounded. Some local sources claimed prior warnings of potential ISIS activity in the area were shared but not acted upon sufficiently.