Three US Nationals Shot Dead by Islamic State Gunman in Syria

Two US soldiers and a US civilian interpreter are killed in central Syria after an ambush blamed on an Islamic State gunman. Three other US service members are wounded, while Syrian state media says two Syrian personnel are also injured. The attack happens near Palmyra during a joint US-Syrian operation.

US President Donald Trump calls it "an ISIS attack" targeting both the US and Syria, and warns there will be "a very serious retaliation". Syria's government issues a separate statement condemning the assault and offering support, as both countries reassess security in the conflict-hit region.

Islamic State attack in Syria and US troops in Syria

According to the US Central Command, the shooter is "engaged and killed" at the scene. In a post on X, the command says the incident is "the result of an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman". Officials confirm the attack remains under investigation, with more details expected after field reports.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell says the US personnel are in Palmyra to support local partners and are "conducting a key leader engagement" when the gunfire starts. Another Pentagon official says early intelligence suggests the assault is "likely" to have been carried out by the Islamic State group.

Islamic State threat, US troops in Syria and global response

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports the attacker is linked to the Syrian security force. No organisation claims responsibility so far, and the gunman's name is not released. A Pentagon official later states: "This attack took place in an area where the Syrian president does not have control."

The US Central Command confirms the names of the three Americans killed will be withheld for at least 24 hours, so families can be informed. Trump says the three injured US soldiers are "doing well". Syria's state news agency reports two Syrian service members are hurt during the same ambush near Palmyra.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issues a sharp warning, saying: "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." Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani posts on X that the country condemns the attack and sends condolences to affected families.

Tom Barrack, US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, says: "I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist ambush targeting a joint US-Syrian government patrol in central Syria." Barrack adds: "We remain committed to defeating terrorism with our Syrian partners." The comments underline closer coordination between Washington and Damascus.

US troops have stayed in Syria since 2015, mainly to train and advise allied forces as part of the campaign against IS. Syria has recently joined an international coalition focused on combatting the group and has promised to co-operate with the US in targeting remaining militant cells across the country.

The wider coalition aims to remove the last pockets of Islamic State influence and block foreign fighters heading to the Middle East. In 2019, a US-backed alliance of Syrian fighters declares IS has lost its final Syrian territory. The United Nations still estimates between 5,000 and 7,000 IS fighters remain across Syria and Iraq.