US President, Donald Trump, has vowed a strong response following the killing of two US soldiers and a US civilian interpreter in Syria, describing the incident as an Islamic State attack and warning that it would be met with serious retaliation.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said the United States is mourning the three Americans killed in Syria and offered prayers for the three injured soldiers, noting that they were in stable condition.
He described the attack as having occurred in a highly dangerous part of Syria not fully under government control and said Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was angered and disturbed by the incident.
Trump said the attack was carried out by the Islamic State group and stressed that the United States would respond forcefully.
He wrote: “We mourn the loss of three Great American Patriots in Syria, two soldiers, and one Civilian Interpreter. Likewise, we pray for the three injured soldiers who, it has just been confirmed, are doing well.
“This was an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them. The President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack. There will be very serious retaliation. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
According to the US military, the two soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed during an ambush by a lone Islamic State gunman in Syria. Three other US service members were injured in the attack, while the assailant was later engaged and killed.
The US Central Command said the identities of those killed would be withheld for 24 hours until their next of kin had been informed.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also reacted to the attack, warning that anyone who targets Americans anywhere in the world would face decisive action from the United States.
The ambush occurred in Palmyra, in central Syria, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.
A Pentagon official said the attack took place in an area outside the control of the Syrian president, adding that initial assessments indicated it was likely carried out by the Islamic State group.
Syria recently joined an international coalition to combat IS and has pledged to cooperate with the United States. Last month, President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Trump at the White House, describing the visit as the beginning of a new era in relations between the two countries.
- BBC