US President Donald Trump has promised “very serious retaliation” following an attack in Syria that killed three Americans, including two service members and one civilian. The ambush, which occurred in a volatile part of central Syria, is being attributed to the Islamic State (ISIS).
In a social media post on Truth Social, Trump described the attack as “an ISIS attack against the US, and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them.” He added that Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the incident.
At a White House briefing, Trump emphasized that al-Sharaa was “devastated” and highlighted Syria’s ongoing cooperation with US forces. US Central Command confirmed three additional service members were wounded in the ambush by a lone gunman, who was later killed. The wounded personnel are reportedly “doing pretty well,” the president said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also issued a strong warning on X, stating: “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 identified the civilian killed as an interpreter. Officials said the attack targeted soldiers involved in a counter-terrorism operation and is under investigation. Reports place the shooting near Palmyra, with casualties airlifted to the al-Tanf garrison near Syria’s borders with Iraq and Jordan.
Conflicting accounts have emerged about the attacker. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed he was a member of the Syrian security forces, while Syria’s Interior Ministry insists the gunman was linked to ISIS, either directly or ideologically, and denies he was a security officer.
The US has deployed hundreds of troops in eastern Syria as part of its coalition against ISIS. While the group was largely defeated in Syria in 2019, sleeper cells continue to operate, with the United Nations estimating between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters remain in Syria and Iraq.
Trump’s statement underscores the US commitment to protecting its personnel and maintaining pressure on extremist groups in the region, even as relations with Syria continue to improve following the fall of the Assad family and recent diplomatic visits.
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