US Troops Killed and Wounded in ISIS Ambush During Joint Patrol in Syria Amid Retaliation Pledges

MIDDLE EAST - U.S. Central Command confirmed an ambush by an Islamic State militant on a joint patrol involving United States forces and Syrian security personnel near Palmyra in central Syria. The attack resulted in the deaths of two United States Army soldiers and one civilian interpreter, with three additional United States service members sustaining injuries. Syrian state-run media reported that two Syrian security personnel were wounded, one of whom later succumbed to injuries. The assailant was neutralized by partner forces during the incident. Helicopters evacuated the wounded to the Al-Tanf base near the Iraqi border. The ambush occurred on December 13 on a joint patrol in Palmyra, located in the Homs region. U.S. forces were touring historic Roman ruins and meeting with Syrian military officials as part of ongoing counter-Islamic State operations. The gunman, identified as a lone Islamic State militant, initiated the attack on the convoy consisting of at least five vehicles. Partner forces responded immediately, neutralizing the threat. No further attackers were reported in the vicinity. Security measures following the incident included temporary closure of the Deir Ezzor-Damascus highway and low-altitude overflights by military aircraft. The engagement marked the first confirmed casualties among United States personnel in Syria since the fall of the Assad government in December 2024. Syria's interim government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa has recently joined the international coalition against the Islamic State, facilitating joint operations in formerly restricted areas.