[Discussion] ISIS Ambush in Palmyra Kills Two U.S. Soldiers, American Interpreter During Visit

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Attack in Palmyra Targets U.S. Delegation

Two U.S. Army soldiers were killed in an ambush carried out by a gunman affiliated with the Islamic State in Palmyra, Syria, according to U.S. Central Command. The attack also killed an American civilian interpreter and injured several others while an American delegation was conducting a visit in the area.

Details of the Incident

The Pentagon said a single ISIS attacker targeted the delegation during what was described as a “key leader engagement.” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the nature of the engagement in a statement posted on X. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the assailant was subsequently killed by partner forces operating alongside U.S. personnel.

Casualties and Identification Policy

In addition to the three fatalities, three other American service members were wounded in the attack, U.S. Central Command reported. The Department of Defense said it is withholding the identities of the deceased in accordance with policy until at least 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.

Local and International Reporting

Syrian state media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based monitoring group, were among the first to report the incident. The observatory said several U.S. personnel were wounded, along with at least three members of the Syrian military. According to the group, the American delegation had been in Palmyra to tour the historic Roman ruins and to meet with Syrian military officials as part of ongoing coordination against ISIS.

Security Response After the Attack

Following the ambush, Syrian and American forces reportedly shut down highways in and around Palmyra. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that U.S. aircraft conducted low-altitude flights over the area as part of the immediate security response.

U.S. Military Presence in Syria

The United States currently maintains several hundred troops in Syria. As part of a broader strategic adjustment, Washington has been working to reduce its force presence from roughly 2,000 personnel to about 1,000. The drawdown includes transferring some bases to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, a longstanding U.S. partner in counter-ISIS operations.

Ongoing Counter-ISIS Operations

In recent months, U.S. forces have conducted joint raids with Syrian security elements targeting ISIS cells and infrastructure, including the destruction of multiple weapons caches last month. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported an increase in ISIS activity and attacks across Syria in recent weeks, underscoring continued instability despite years of counterterrorism pressure.

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