Two U.S. troops and an American civilian translator were killed, and three other soldiers were wounded, in an ambush attack in central Syria on Saturday. A senior U.S. official confirmed to Fox News that the troops who were killed and injured were members of the Iowa National Guard.
The attack occurred in the central Syrian town of Palmyra, where a lone ISIS gunman opened fire with an automatic weapon.
U.S. Central Command confirmed the deaths and injuries were a "result of an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman in Syria."
Key details about the attacker:
- Preliminary information suggests the gunman was once affiliated with the Syrian government forces and had been a low-level member of the Syrian Security Forces.
- The gunman later became connected to ISIS.
- The official clarified that the incident would not be considered a “green on blue” attack because the Syrian gunman was not part of the U.S./Syrian partnered delegation being escorted at the time.
President Donald Trump warned that there would be "very serious retaliation" following the ambush.
"We mourn the loss of three Great American Patriots in Syria, two soldiers, and one Civilian Interpreter. Likewise, we pray for the three injured soldiers who, it has just been confirmed, are doing well," Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added that the attack was in a "very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them."