Three Americans Killed in Syria by Alleged Islamic State Assailant, US Defense Department Says
A deadly attack in the heart of Syria on Saturday morning resulted in the deaths of a pair of American troops and a US civilian translator, with several other people injured, according to the Pentagon.
This offensive on US troops in the ancient city of Tadmur marks the initial incident to cause fatalities following the ouster of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad approximately a year prior.
"The attack took place while the soldiers were carrying out a key leader engagement," a Pentagon spokesperson said. "Their mission was in support of on-going counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism missions in the region."
The attacker responsible for the gunfire was eliminated by allied troops, according to a statement from the US defense secretary.
Specifics Withheld Out of Respect
Central Command indicated that, as a matter of respect for the loved ones and in accordance with standard procedure, the identities of the deceased personnel will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified.
Earlier reports from Syrian state media and a conflict observatory stated that gunfire erupted during a tour by US soldiers to the central town of Palmyra.
Conflicting Reports Surface
According to a government news agency, two members of local security forces and several US personnel were injured in the incident. Those hurt were allegedly evacuated by helicopters to a military base near the frontier with Iraq and Jordan.
An official for Syria's interior ministry said a gunman affiliated with Islamic State began shooting at the entrance of a military post. Authorities are investigating whether the assailant was a formal member of the group or merely adhered to its extreme ideology.
This spokesperson also refuted a report from a Britain-based monitoring group that the gunman was a security member.
Continued US Presence in the Region
The US currently has a military presence deployed in eastern Syria as part of a broader coalition combating the ISIS militant group.
Even after being militarily routed in Syria in recent years, the organization's sleeper cells still execute deadly attacks. United Nations estimates indicate the faction retains thousands of militants in both Syria and Iraq.
American forces have been targeted in the before. One of the most severe prior incidents took place in that year in northern Syria, when an explosion claimed the lives of American soldiers and US civilians, among additional casualties.
