In a tragic turn of events, two American service members and one U.S. civilian lost their lives in an ambush orchestrated by the Islamic State group in central Syria on Saturday. Alongside those killed, three others sustained injuries in the attack, as confirmed by the U.S. Central Command.

This incident marks the first attack resulting in casualties for U.S. troops in Syria since the fall of President Bashar Assad a year prior. The ambush unfolded in the ancient, historically significant region near Palmyra, during a visit by American forces.

According to Syria’s state-run SANA news agency, gunfire erupted as Syrian and U.S. forces were present, leading to several personnel being wounded, including members of Syria’s security forces. The injured were swiftly evacuated by helicopter to the al-Tanf garrison, a strategic military base near the borders of Iraq and Jordan.

Out of respect for the families affected and in line with the Department of War’s policy, Central Command has withheld the identities of the deceased service members, ensuring they will only be released 24 hours after notifying their next of kin.

The situation remains fluid, and further details are expected to emerge as the investigation continues. Readers are advised to stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

The shooting took place near Palmyra, according to the state-run SANA news agency, which said two members of Syria’s security force and several U.S. service members were wounded. The injured were taken by helicopters to the al-Tanf garrison near the border with Iraq and Jordan.

SANA said the attacker was killed, without providing further details.

A U.S. defense official told The Associated Press that they are aware of the reports and did not have any information to provide immediately. The official spoke on condition of anonymity for not being authorized to speak to the media.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least three Syrian security members were wounded as well as several Americans. It added that the attacker was a member of the Syrian security force.

The U.S. has hundreds of troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

Last month, Syria joined the international coalition fighting against the IS as Damascus improves its relations with Western countries following last year’s fall of President Bashar Assad when insurgents captured his seat of power in Damascus.

The U.S. had no diplomatic relations with Syria under Assad, but ties have warmed since the fall of the five-decade Assad family rule. The interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, made a historic visit to Washington last month where he held talks with President Donald Trump.

IS was defeated in Syria in 2019 but the group’s sleeper cells still carry out deadly attacks in the country. The United Nations says the group still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.

U.S. troops, which have maintained a presence in different parts of Syria – including Al-Tanf garrison in the central province of Homs – to train other forces as part of a broad campaign against IS, have been targeted in the past. One of the deadliest attacks occurred in 2019 in the northern town of Manbij when a blast killed two U.S. service members and two American civilians as well as others from Syria while conducting a patrol.

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Mroue reported from Beirut.