Dec. 14 (UPI) — A gunman who ambushed U.S. and Syrian soldiers, killing two American troops and a civilian interpreter near Palmyra Saturday, is thought to have been an Islamic State infiltrator working as part of a local security detail, according to multiple reports.
The two American troops killed were U.S. National Guard soldiers from Iowa, according to a statement from Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Syria strongly condemns the terrorist attack that targeted a joint Syrian-US counterterrorism patrol near Palmyra.
We extend our condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the U.S. government and people, and we wish the injured a swift recovery.#Syria#US— SANA English (@SANAEnOfficial) December 13, 2025
The shooting occurred during a mission in a historic central town near Palmyra, according to CBS News.
President Donald Trump blamed the attack on ISIS and, in a social media post, threatened retribution, as did other Washington lawmakers.
“This was an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria that is not fully controlled by them,” Trump wrote. “The President of Syria, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack. There will be very serious retaliation.”
Two members of Syria’s security forces were wounded in the attack.
Local security forces were monitoring the badia, which is under the control of the Syrian government. U.S. Central Command said the “gunman was engaged and killed,” Trump wrote.
“We had three great Patriots terminated by bad people, and not the Syrian government,” Trump continued in his Truth Social post. “There will be a lot of damage done to the people that did it.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by telephone with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Sunday, according to the State Department.
He “offered condolences and reiterated the commitment of the Syrian government to degrade and destroy the shared threat of ISIS.”
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
