UPDATE: Two American service members and an American civilian interpreter were killed in a deadly ambush by an ISIS gunman in central Syria on October 14, 2023. The attack, which also left three other U.S. service members wounded, occurred near the ancient city of Palmyra.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the casualties in a statement, emphasizing that the attacker was “neutralized” during the confrontation. “Two U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian were killed, and three service members were injured, as a result of an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman in Syria,” the statement read. The identities of the victims will be withheld for 24 hours to allow for next of kin notifications.
The civilian victim has been identified as an interpreter working closely with U.S. troops. In response to the attack, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth took to social media platform X, declaring, “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 Pentagon reported that the ambush occurred while the soldiers were conducting a key operational engagement to support ongoing counter-ISIS efforts in the region. The wounded service members were evacuated by helicopter to the Al-Tanf garrison, a U.S. military base located near the Syrian borders with Iraq and Jordan.
This incident marks the first American casualties in Syria since the fall of President Bashar Assad a year ago. Since that time, U.S. diplomatic relations with the interim Syrian government, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, have improved, including a recent visit to Washington by al-Sharaa.
Despite the Islamic State’s defeat on the battlefield in 2019, the group remains a significant threat in the region. The United Nations estimates that ISIS retains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters across Syria and Iraq, operating mainly through sleeper cells.
As investigations continue, the focus shifts to U.S. military operations and the security situation in Syria. Officials urge vigilance as the threat from ISIS persists, underscoring the ongoing need for robust counter-terrorism measures in this volatile region.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.