Three US Citizens Fatally Wounded in Syria by Alleged ISIS Gunman, US Defense Department Says
A fatal attack in central Syria on Saturday morning resulted in the loss of two US army soldiers and a US civilian translator, with a number of others wounded, as stated by the US Department of Defense.
This offensive on American forces in the ancient city of Palmyra represents the initial event to cause fatalities since the fall of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad roughly a year ago.
"The attack occurred as the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement," an official stated. "The operation was in support of ongoing counter-ISIS / anti-terror operations in the region."
The attacker responsible for the gunfire was eliminated by partner forces, according to a statement from the Secretary of Defense.
Specifics Kept Private For Privacy
US CENTCOM noted that, to respect the privacy for the families and in accordance with policy, the identities of the fallen service members will not be released until 24 hours after their families have been notified.
Initial accounts from Syrian state media and a war monitor stated that shots rang out during a tour by American troops to the area of Palmyra.
Conflicting Accounts Surface
According to a government media outlet, a pair of local security forces and several US personnel were wounded in the incident. Those hurt were reportedly evacuated by helicopters to a military base near the border with neighboring countries.
An official for the Syrian government said a shooter linked to ISIS opened fire at the entrance of a army position. Officials are investigating whether the individual was a formal member of the organization or merely adhered to its radical beliefs.
This spokesperson further denied a claim from a Britain-based rights group that the attacker was a security member.
Ongoing US Presence in the Region
The US maintains hundreds of troops deployed in Syria's east as part of a multinational alliance combating the Islamic State.
Despite being militarily routed in the country in recent years, the group's sleeper cells continue to carry out deadly attacks. United Nations estimates suggest the faction still has thousands of fighters in Syria and Iraq.
American forces have previously been targeted in the past. One of the most severe previous attacks occurred in that year in northern Syria, when an explosion killed American soldiers and two American civilians, among additional casualties.
