Two U.S. service members and one American civilian were killed in a targeted Islamic State attack in central Syria on December 13, 2025, marking the deadliest assault on U.S. forces in the region since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024. Three additional personnel sustained injuries during the ambush near Palmyra, according to U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM).
The lone IS gunman, neutralized during the engagement, attacked a joint patrol involving Syrian security forces and U.S. troops. Syrian state media SANA reported two wounded Syrian personnel alongside American casualties. President Donald Trump pledged "very serious retaliation" via his Truth Social platform, echoing heightened regional tensions.
USCENTCOM confirmed it will withhold victims' identities for 24 hours per military protocol. This incident underscores ongoing security challenges in post-Assad Syria, where U.S. forces continue counterterrorism operations despite political uncertainties. Analysts warn the attack could signal IS attempts to exploit power vacuums created by last year's regime change.
