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President Donald Trump condemned an ISIS ambush in Syria that killed three Americans, including two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter, calling the attack an act of terror and vowing retaliation. “We mourn the loss of three Great American Patriots in Syria, two soldiers, and one Civilian Interpreter,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Likewise, we pray for the three injured soldiers who, it has just been confirmed, are doing well.”
Trump said the incident was a targeted ISIS attack in a volatile region of Syria outside the full control of the Syrian government, Fox News reported.
“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,” Trump added.
While traveling to the annual Army-Navy football game Saturday, Trump spoke with reporters and described the attack as an ambush.
“So, we mourn the loss of three great patriots,” Trump said. “You know how it happened. It was an ambush. Terrible.” Trump said three additional U.S. service members were wounded but were recovering.
“We also have three wounded. They seem to be doing pretty well,” he said. “But we mourn the loss.”
Trump said the Syrian government had been cooperating with U.S. forces in counter ISIS operations and was devastated by the attack.
“This was an ISIS attack on us and Syria,” Trump said. “And again, we mourn the loss and we pray for them and their parents and their loved ones.”
Asked whether the United States would retaliate against ISIS, Trump confirmed military action was forthcoming.
“Yeah, we will and will,” Trump said. “We will retaliate.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced Saturday that the gunman responsible for the attack had been killed by partner forces.
“The savage who perpetrated this attack was killed by partner forces,” Hegseth said. “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.”
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the Americans were ambushed in the central Syrian town of Palmyra.
U.S. Central Command said the deaths and injuries were the result of “an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman in Syria.”
Parnell said the troops were conducting a key leader engagement in support of ongoing counter ISIS and counter terrorism operations.
“The soldiers’ names, as well as identifying information about their units, are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification,” Parnell said.
Parnell said the attack remains under investigation and occurred in an area not fully controlled by Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa.
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll mourned the fallen in a statement posted to X.
“I’m praying for the brave U.S. soldiers and civilian who lost their lives, those who were injured in this attack, and the families who bear this profound loss,” Driscoll wrote. “We mourn the passing of these heroes and honor their service and sacrifice.”
A senior U.S. official earlier confirmed multiple injuries following the ambush.
The wounded were evacuated by helicopter to the al Tanf garrison near the borders of Iraq and Jordan, according to The Associated Press citing Syrian state media.
There are approximately 900 U.S. troops currently stationed in Syria.
The U.S. military established multiple bases in Syria beginning in 2014 to prevent ISIS from forming a caliphate, though several installations have since been closed or transferred to Syrian Democratic Forces.
The attack comes as Syria marks the first anniversary of the collapse of the Assad regime.
On Monday, tens of thousands of Syrians gathered in Damascus to commemorate the fall of Bashar al Assad, who fled the capital last year after rebel forces ended more than five decades of Assad family rule.
