Two U.S. service members and an American civilian were killed Saturday during a terrorist attack in central Syria, prompting renewed scrutiny of security arrangements with local partner forces amid indications that the attacker may have been embedded with allied units while maintaining ties to a terrorist organization.
According to U.S. Central Command, the attack occurred near Palmyra during a joint engagement involving U.S. forces and Syrian security personnel. The assailant opened fire on the group before being killed at the scene by partner forces. Three additional U.S. service members were wounded and are receiving medical care. At least two Syrian personnel were also injured.
U.S. officials have attributed the attack to the Islamic State, noting that the group continues to operate sleeper cells in parts of Syria despite years of counterterrorism operations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on the phone with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Sunday, the State Department said. According to a statement, al-Shaibani “offered condolences and reiterated the commitment of the Syrian government to degrade and destroy the shared threat of ISIS.”
As details emerged, multiple media reports citing U.S. and regional officials indicated that the attacker may have been affiliated with Syrian security forces at the time of the assault. Those reports suggest the individual had been recently recruited or embedded with allied units, raising concerns that he may have concealed ongoing ties to the Islamic State while operating alongside U.S. and partner forces.
Syrian authorities acknowledged that the attacker had been under internal review prior to the incident due to suspected extremist sympathies. Officials said steps had been underway to remove him from service, though those actions were not completed before the shooting occurred. Several individuals connected to the security unit involved have reportedly been detained as part of an ongoing investigation.
President Donald Trump condemned the attack and pledged a strong response, stating that those responsible for killing Americans would be held accountable. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed that message, saying U.S. forces would continue operations against terrorist threats targeting American personnel.
The Syrian interim government also denounced the attack and expressed condolences to the families of those killed. Officials reiterated their commitment to cooperating with the United States in counterterrorism efforts while acknowledging the need for tighter screening and oversight within local security forces.
The incident marks the deadliest attack on U.S. personnel in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in 2024. While U.S. troop levels in the country remain limited, American forces continue to advise and assist local partners in efforts to disrupt Islamic State networks, particularly in central and eastern regions where government control remains uneven.
No group has formally claimed responsibility for the attack. Investigations by U.S. and Syrian authorities are ongoing.