A Trio of Americans Fatally Wounded in Syrian Territory by Alleged Islamic State Gunman, Pentagon Reports
A deadly ambush in the heart of Syria on Saturday resulted in the loss of a pair of American troops and one American civilian interpreter, with several other people wounded, as stated by the Pentagon.
This offensive on American forces in the historic city of Tadmur represents the first event to inflict casualties following the ouster of ex-leader Bashar al-Assad approximately a year ago.
"The attack occurred as the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement," a Pentagon spokesperson said. "The operation was in aid of ongoing counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism operations in the area."
The attacker responsible for the shooting was killed by partner forces, as confirmed by a statement from the US defense secretary.
Specifics Withheld For Privacy
US CENTCOM indicated that, to respect the privacy for the families and in accordance with policy, the identities of the deceased personnel will not be released until 24 hours after their families have been notified.
Initial accounts from Syrian state media and a conflict observatory said that gunfire erupted during a visit by US soldiers to the central town of Tadmur.
Varying Reports Surface
According to a government media outlet, two members of local security forces and several US service members were injured in the exchange. Those hurt were reportedly transported by helicopters to a military base near the frontier with Iraq and Jordan.
A spokesperson for the Syrian government said a gunman affiliated with ISIS began shooting at the entrance of a military post. Officials are looking into whether the assailant was a card-carrying member of the group or merely espoused its radical beliefs.
This spokesperson also denied a report from a UK-based monitoring group that the attacker was a security member.
Continued American Deployment in the Region
The US currently has a military presence deployed in eastern Syria as a component of a broader coalition combating the Islamic State.
Despite being militarily routed in Syria in 2019, the group's dormant networks continue to execute lethal strikes. United Nations estimates indicate the group still has thousands of militants in both Syria and Iraq.
US troops have been attacked in the past. One of the most severe prior incidents took place in 2019 in the north, when an blast killed American soldiers and two American civilians, among additional casualties.
