Two U.S. Soldiers and Civilian Interpreter Killed During Anti-ISIS Mission in Syria

Two United States Army soldiers and an American civilian interpreter were killed in Syria on Saturday, the Pentagon announced.

Three other U.S. soldiers were wounded in the attack in Palmyra, according to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, which took place as the soldiers were taking part in ongoing anti-ISIS operations in the region alongside Syrian government troops.

A Pentagon official told TIME that the attack took place in an area where the Syrian government does not have control, and an initial assessment found it "was likely carried out by ISIS.”

But local officials said the attacker was a member of the Syrian government security forces, Reuters reported.

In a statement condemning the attack, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the attacker was killed by “partner forces,” referring to the Syrian army.  

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“Let it be known, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you,” Hegseth said on X. 

Syria’s state news agency said two Syrian military personnel were also injured in the attack. 

Tom Barrack, U.S. ambassador to Turkey and the Trump Administration’s special envoy to Syria, also condemned the attack and paid tribute to the soldiers.

"We mourn the loss of three brave U.S. service members and civilian personnel and wish a speedy recovery to the Syrian troops wounded in the attack," Barrack said in a statement. "We remain committed to defeating terrorism with our Syrian partners."