Three US Citizens Fatally Wounded in Syria by Alleged Islamic State Gunman, US Defense Department Reports
A deadly attack in central Syria on Saturday morning resulted in the loss of a pair of American troops and a US civilian translator, with several other people injured, as stated by the Pentagon.
The assault on American forces in the historic town of Palmyra represents the initial event to cause fatalities since the ouster of ex-leader Bashar al-Assad approximately a year prior.
"This assault occurred as the soldiers were carrying out a key leader engagement," a Pentagon spokesperson stated. "Their mission was in support of ongoing anti-ISIS / anti-terror missions in the area."
The assailant behind the shooting was eliminated by allied troops, as confirmed by a statement from the Secretary of Defense.
Details Kept Private For Privacy
US CENTCOM indicated that, as a matter of respect for the loved ones and in line with standard procedure, the names of the fallen service members will not be released until a full day after their families have been informed.
Earlier reports from Syrian state media and a conflict observatory said that shots erupted during a tour by US soldiers to the central town of Tadmur.
Varying Reports Surface
According to a government media outlet, a pair of Syria's security force and several US service members were wounded in the exchange. Those hurt were allegedly transported by helicopters to a garrison near the border with neighboring countries.
A spokesperson for Syria's interior ministry said a shooter linked to Islamic State opened fire at the entrance of a military post. Authorities are investigating whether the assailant was a card-carrying member of the organization or simply espoused its extreme ideology.
This spokesperson also denied a report from a Britain-based rights group that the attacker was a member of the security forces.
Ongoing American Deployment in the Region
The US maintains hundreds of troops deployed in eastern Syria as a component of a broader coalition fighting the Islamic State.
Even after being militarily routed in the country in 2019, the organization's dormant networks still carry out lethal strikes. United Nations estimates suggest the group retains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both Syria and Iraq.
US troops have been attacked in the before. Among the deadliest prior incidents took place in 2019 in the north, when an explosion killed two US service members and US civilians, among additional casualties.
