Three Americans Killed in Syria by Suspected ISIS Assailant, US Defense Department Says

A deadly ambush in the heart of Syria on Saturday resulted in the deaths of a pair of American troops and a US civilian translator, with a number of others wounded, according to the Pentagon.

The assault on US troops in the historic city of Tadmur marks the first event to cause fatalities since the ouster of ex-leader Bashar al-Assad approximately a year prior.

"This assault took place while the service members were carrying out a key leader engagement," an official stated. "Their mission was in support of ongoing counter-ISIS / anti-terror missions in the area."

The attacker responsible for the shooting was eliminated by allied troops, as confirmed by a declaration from the US defense secretary.

Details Kept Private For Privacy

Central Command noted that, as a matter of respect for the loved ones and in accordance with standard procedure, the names of the deceased personnel will not be released until a full day after their next of kin have been informed.

Earlier reports from local news agencies and a war monitor stated that shots erupted during a visit by US soldiers to the area of Tadmur.

Conflicting Reports Emerge

Per a state-run media outlet, two members of Syria's security force and several US personnel were wounded in the incident. Those hurt were reportedly evacuated by aircraft to a garrison near the border with neighboring countries.

A spokesperson for the Syrian government claimed a shooter affiliated with ISIS opened fire at the entrance of a military post. Authorities are looking into whether the individual was a formal member of the organization or simply adhered to its extreme ideology.

The official also denied a claim from a Britain-based monitoring group that the attacker was a member of the security forces.

Ongoing US Presence in the Region

The US maintains a military presence stationed in eastern Syria as part of a multinational alliance combating the Islamic State.

Even after being militarily routed in Syria in 2019, the organization's sleeper cells still carry out lethal strikes. UN estimates indicate the faction retains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.

US troops have been attacked in the before. Among the most severe prior incidents occurred in that year in the north, when an blast claimed the lives of American soldiers and two American civilians, among others.