United States President Donald Trump has vowed a strong military response following the killing of two US Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Syria, describing the incident as an Islamic State (IS) attack and warning that it would be met with “very serious retaliation.”
In a statement posted on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said the nation was mourning the three Americans killed in the attack and offered prayers for the three injured soldiers, whom he said were in stable condition.
“We mourn the loss of three Great American Patriots in Syria two soldiers and one civilian interpreter,” Trump wrote.
“This was an ISIS attack against the U.S. and Syria in a very dangerous area not fully under government control. There will be very serious retaliation.”
Trump added that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the attack.
According to the US Department of Defense, the victims were killed during an ambush by a lone Islamic State gunman while on a joint mission in central Syria, near Palmyra.
Three other US service members were wounded, while the attacker was later engaged and killed by partner forces.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed that the attack occurred outside the effective control of the Syrian government and said initial assessments indicated Islamic State responsibility.
The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also reacted strongly, warning that anyone who targets Americans anywhere in the world would face decisive consequences.
“If you target Americans anywhere the United States will hunt you down,” Hegseth said.
The incident comes amid renewed US-Syria security cooperation. Syria recently joined an international coalition against Islamic State and has pledged closer collaboration with Washington.
Last month, President al-Sharaa met with Trump at the White House, describing the visit as the start of a new phase in bilateral relations.
The attack underscores ongoing security challenges in Syria, where Islamic State remnants continue to operate despite years of counterterrorism efforts.
