He expressed his condolences for the three American victims and noted that the three others who were injured “seem to be doing pretty well.”
In recent developments, Syria has joined the international coalition against ISIS. This move comes as Damascus is working to strengthen its relationships with Western countries, following the removal of Assad after insurgents took control of the capital.
Under Assad, the U.S. had cut diplomatic ties with Syria. However, relations have begun to improve since the end of the Assad family’s five-decade reign.
Last month, interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa made a landmark visit to Washington, where he engaged in discussions with President Donald Trump.
While ISIS was militarily defeated in Syria in 2019, the group’s sleeper cells continue to launch deadly attacks in the region.
According to the United Nations, ISIS still maintains a presence of between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters across Syria and Iraq.
US 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 US service members and two American civilians as well as others from Syria while conducting a patrol.
