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Two U.S. service members and one American civilian were killed when a lone Daesh gunman ambushed a military delegation conducting counterterrorism operations in central Syria on Friday, U.S. Central Command announced.
Three additional U.S. service members sustained injuries in the attack near the ancient city of Palmyra, where an American-led coalition team and Syrian security forces were reviewing plans to combat the Islamic State. The assailant was killed during the engagement, according to the military statement.
One Syrian soldier also died in the incident, with two other Syrian personnel wounded, according to reports citing sources from Geopolitics Watch and the Syrian state news agency SANA.
The ambush marks one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. forces in Syria in recent years, underscoring the persistent threat posed by Daesh remnants despite the group's territorial defeat in 2019.
U.S. military helicopters made an emergency landing near Palmyra to evacuate the wounded, who were transported to the El-Tanf base for medical treatment. Security forces implemented heightened protective measures during the evacuation, activating air support assets across the area.
Syrian authorities temporarily closed the international highway connecting Deir ez-Zor and Damascus for security reasons following the attack.
"As a matter of respect for the families and in accordance with Department of War policy, the identities of the service members will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified," Central Command said in its statement issued from Tampa, Florida.
The Pentagon confirmed that the American civilian killed was reportedly serving as a translator for the delegation.
The United States maintains approximately 900 troops in Syria as part of an international coalition formed to defeat Daesh. American forces primarily operate in the northeast and at the El-Tanf garrison in the southeast, partnering with Kurdish-led SDF and conducting counterterrorism missions.
While Daesh lost its final territorial holdings in Syria in 2019, the group continues to operate through sleeper cells conducting ambushes, assassinations, and attacks across remote desert regions. The area around Palmyra, located in Homs province, has seen periodic Daesh activity despite Syrian government control of the historic city since 2017.
Central Command indicated that additional updates would be provided as information becomes available.
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