DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — An ambush in central Syria left two U.S. service members and one American civilian dead, with three others injured. This attack marks the first U.S. casualties since President Bashar Assad’s regime fell last year.
The U.S. military’s Central Command shared that they would withhold the names of the deceased until 24 hours after notifying their families. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the seriousness of targeting Americans, stating, “If you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will face significant consequences.”
The ambush occurred near the historic site of Palmyra. The Syrian state media reported that the attacker was killed, but details about their identity remain unclear. Some reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights suggest that the assailant was linked to Syrian security forces.
While the U.S. has hundreds of troops stationed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group, recent events suggest an evolving landscape. A survey conducted by the United Nations estimates that IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters remaining in Syria and Iraq, despite being defeated on the battlefield in 2019. This shows the group’s enduring presence and potential for violence.
Interestingly, Syria recently joined the international coalition fighting IS, indicating a shift in its relations with Western nations post-Assad. The interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, visited Washington last month, meeting with President Donald Trump. This effort highlights a notable shift from a period when diplomatic ties were virtually nonexistent under Assad.
The risks for U.S. personnel in Syria remain high. In 2019, a bombing in Manbij resulted in the deaths of two U.S. service members and two American civilians, among others.
This latest attack reveals that while geopolitical dynamics may be changing, the threat from insurgent groups like IS continues to loom large.
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