Three US Citizens Killed in Syrian Territory by Suspected ISIS Gunman, 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 wounded, according to the US Department of Defense.
This offensive on American forces in the ancient town of Palmyra marks the first event to cause fatalities following the ouster of ex-leader Bashar al-Assad roughly a year ago.
"The attack occurred as the service members were carrying out a key leader engagement," a Pentagon spokesperson said. "Their mission was in aid of on-going counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism operations in the area."
The assailant behind the gunfire was eliminated by partner forces, as confirmed by a declaration from the Secretary of Defense.
Specifics Withheld Out of Respect
US CENTCOM indicated that, to respect the privacy for the families and in accordance with standard procedure, the names of the deceased personnel will not be released until 24 hours after their next of kin have been informed.
Initial accounts from Syrian state media and a conflict observatory stated that shots erupted during a visit by US soldiers to the area of Palmyra.
Conflicting Accounts Surface
According to a government news agency, two members of Syria's security force and several US service members were wounded in the incident. The injured were allegedly transported by helicopters to a military base near the border with Iraq and Jordan.
A spokesperson for the Syrian government claimed a shooter linked to ISIS opened fire at the entrance of a military post. Officials are investigating whether the individual was a formal member of the organization or simply adhered to its radical beliefs.
The official further refuted a claim from a UK-based rights group that the attacker was a security member.
Continued US Presence in the Region
The United States currently has a military presence deployed in Syria's east as a component of a broader coalition combating the Islamic State.
Despite being militarily routed in the country in recent years, the organization's sleeper cells continue to execute deadly attacks. UN assessments suggest the group retains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
American forces have previously been targeted in the before. One of the deadliest prior incidents occurred in that year in northern Syria, when an explosion killed two US service members and US civilians, among additional casualties.
