🔗 Share this article Three US Citizens Killed in Syrian Territory by Alleged ISIS Gunman, Pentagon Says A deadly ambush in the heart of Syria on Saturday resulted in the deaths of a pair of American troops and one American civilian interpreter, with several other people wounded, as stated by the US Department of Defense. This offensive on US troops in the historic town of Palmyra represents the first event to cause fatalities following the fall of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad approximately a year ago. "This assault occurred as the service members were conducting a high-level meeting," an official said. "Their mission was in support of on-going anti-ISIS / anti-terror operations in the area." The attacker behind the gunfire was eliminated by allied troops, as confirmed by a statement from the US defense secretary. Details Kept Private Out of Respect Central Command indicated that, to respect the privacy for the loved ones and in line with policy, the names of the fallen service members will not be released until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified. Earlier reports from Syrian state media and a conflict observatory stated that gunfire erupted during a tour by American troops to the area of Palmyra. Conflicting Accounts Surface According to a government news agency, a pair of Syria's security force and several US service members were wounded in the incident. Those hurt were reportedly evacuated by aircraft to a garrison near the frontier with Iraq and Jordan. A spokesperson for the Syrian government claimed a shooter affiliated with Islamic State opened fire at the gate of a military post. Authorities are looking into whether the assailant was a card-carrying member of the organization or merely espoused its radical beliefs. This spokesperson also refuted a report from a Britain-based rights group that the gunman was a security member. Ongoing US Presence in Syria The United States maintains hundreds of troops deployed in Syria's east as a component of a multinational alliance fighting the Islamic State. Even after being declared defeated in Syria in 2019, the group's sleeper cells still carry out lethal strikes. UN estimates indicate the faction still has thousands of fighters in Syria and Iraq. American forces have been attacked in the past. Among the deadliest prior incidents took place in 2019 in northern Syria, when an blast claimed the lives of two US service members and US civilians, among others.