President Donald Trump said the United States will retaliate after two U.S. service members and a civilian interpreter were killed Saturday in Syria in an attack by ISIS.
U.S. Central Command said in addition to the three who died, three service members were also injured in the attack by a “lone ISIS gunman,” who was killed.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the killing took place in Palmyra, Syria, and the civilian killed was a U.S. interpreter.
“The attack occurred as the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement. Their mission was in support of on-going counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism operations in the region,” he said on social media. “The soldiers’ names, as well as identifying information about their units, are being withheld until 24 hours after the next of kin notification. This attack is currently under active investigation.”
Trump told reporters Saturday the killing was an “ambush,” and said the president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was “devastated by what happened.”
“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 said in a social media post. “This was an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria... . There will be very serious retaliation.”