A view of broken Syrian Normal Workers Headquarters following a number of Israeli airstrikes in central Damascus, Syria on July 16, 2025.
Bakr Al Kasem | Anadolu | Getty Photos
Three U.S. navy personnel — two Military troopers and a civilian interpreter — have been killed on Saturday by a suspected Islamic State attacker who focused a convoy of American and Syrian forces, the U.S. navy stated.
Three different U.S. troopers have been wounded, the U.S. navy’s Central Command stated.
In an announcement, Central Command stated the assault by a lone gunman occurred “because the troopers have been conducting a key chief engagement” within the central Syrian city of Palmyra. “Accomplice forces” killed the attacker, U.S. Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth wrote in a social media submit.
Islamic State didn’t instantly declare accountability, however a senior U.S. official stated preliminary assessments point out the militant group most likely carried out the assault. It passed off in an space not managed by the Syrian authorities, the official stated.
The troopers’ names will likely be withheld till 24 hours after the next-of-kin notification, the U.S. navy stated.
Syrian state information company SANA quoted a safety supply as saying two Syrian service personnel have been injured, with out offering additional particulars. The supply instructed SANA that American helicopters evacuated the injured to a U.S. base in Syria’s Al-Tanf area close to the Iraqi border.
Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and particular envoy to Syria, condemned the assault.
“We mourn the lack of three courageous U.S. service members and civilian personnel and want a speedy restoration to the Syrian troops wounded within the assault,” Barrack stated in an announcement. “We stay dedicated to defeating terrorism with our Syrian companions.”
The assault got here barely a month after Syria introduced it had signed a political cooperation settlement with the U.S.-led coalition in opposition to Islamic State, which coincided with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s go to to the White Home.
The coalition has carried out air strikes and floor operations in Syria concentrating on Islamic State suspects in current months, usually with the involvement of Syria’s safety forces. Syria final month additionally carried out a nationwide marketing campaign, arresting greater than 70 folks accused of hyperlinks to the group.
The USA has troops stationed in northeastern Syria as a part of a decade-long effort to assist a Kurdish-led drive there.