A joint patrol of Syrian security forces and US troops came under fire yesterday, Saturday December 13, near the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria’s central Homs province, killing two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM) and Syrian officials. The shooting occurred during a joint field tour in the desert area, marking the deadliest attack on US forces in Syria since the fall of Assad last year.
The US Department of Defense said three additional American service members were wounded. Syrian state media reported that two members of Syria’s internal security forces were also injured. The wounded were evacuated by helicopter to the US garrison at Tanf near the borders with Iraq and Jordan. CENTCOM said the ambush was carried out by a lone gunman affiliated with ISIS, who was killed during the exchange of fire.
Interior Ministry Cites Ignored Warnings
Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Nouruddin al-Baba said the Internal Security Command had issued advance warnings to partner forces in the US-led international coalition about the risk of an ISIS attack in “the Badia” (desert region.) He said those warnings were not taken into account.
“The incident occurred at the gate of a fortified Internal Security Command headquarters after the end of a joint tour,” Baba said during a phone interview with the Al-Ikhbariyah. He added that investigations are ongoing to determine whether the attacker had a direct organizational link to ISIS or only embraced the group’s extremist ideology.
Baba said the gunman had no leadership role within Syria’s internal security forces and was not assigned as an escort to senior commanders, disputing reports circulating online. He noted that an internal assessment issued December 10 flagged the suspect for possible extremist views, with administrative action scheduled for December 14.
Condemnations and Official Reactions
Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani condemned the attack in a post on X, calling it a terrorist act and offering condolences to the families of the victims and to the American government and people. Qutaiba Idlibi, director of the Department of American Affairs, condemned the attack, saying Syria stands in solidarity with the families of the victims and remains committed to working with its partners to prevent the resurgence of ISIS and protect regional and international stability.
US President Donald Trump confirmed the deaths in a post on Truth Social, describing the shooting as an ISIS attack against both the US and Syria. He said Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the incident and warned that retaliation would be severe.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement on X that those who target Americans would be pursued and killed. Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa said the two slain soldiers were members of the Iowa National Guard.
Security Response and Wider Context
Following the attack, coalition forces, supported by Syrian security units, carried out arrest operations in Palmyra, detaining at least three people, according to “private sources” cited by Syria TV. US aircraft also conducted low-altitude flights over the area in a show of force.
