A Trio of Americans Fatally Wounded in Syria by Suspected Islamic State Assailant, Pentagon Says
A fatal attack in central Syria on Saturday morning led to the loss of two US army soldiers and one American civilian interpreter, with several other people injured, according to the Pentagon.
The assault on US troops in the ancient city of Palmyra marks the first incident to cause fatalities since the fall of ex-leader Bashar al-Assad approximately a year prior.
"The attack took place while the soldiers were carrying out a key leader engagement," a Pentagon spokesperson stated. "The operation was in support of ongoing counter-ISIS / anti-terror operations in the region."
The assailant responsible for the shooting was killed by allied troops, according to a declaration from the US defense secretary.
Specifics Withheld For Privacy
Central Command indicated that, to respect the privacy for the families and in line with policy, the names of the fallen service members will be withheld until 24 hours after their families have been notified.
Initial accounts from local news agencies and a conflict observatory stated that shots erupted during a tour by US soldiers to the central town of Tadmur.
Conflicting Accounts Surface
According to a state-run news agency, two members of Syria's security force and a number of US personnel were injured in the incident. Those hurt were allegedly transported by aircraft to a garrison near the border with neighboring countries.
An official for Syria's interior ministry claimed a gunman affiliated with ISIS opened fire at the gate of a army position. Authorities are looking into whether the individual was a card-carrying member of the organization or simply adhered to its extreme ideology.
The official further denied a report from a Britain-based monitoring group that the gunman was a member of the security forces.
Ongoing US Presence in Syria
The US maintains a military presence deployed in Syria's east as a component of a multinational alliance combating the ISIS militant group.
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 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
US troops have been targeted in the past. Among the deadliest previous attacks occurred in that year in the north, when an explosion claimed the lives of American soldiers and US civilians, among additional casualties.
