A routine mission in Syria turned deadly — and fast.
Two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed after an ambush in central Syria.
US officials say the attack bears the hallmarks of Islamic State.
The shooter didn’t escape. But the message was loud.
According to US Central Command, a lone gunman opened fire during what officials described as a “key leader engagement” near Palmyra.
Three other American service members were wounded but survived.
The attacker was “engaged and killed,” Centcom said, while Syrian media reported two local personnel were also injured.
Was this ISIS trying to remind the world it’s still alive?
President Donald Trump didn’t mince words, calling it “an ISIS attack” and warning of “very serious retaliation.”
US Troops Targeted
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed that tone.
“If you target Americans… the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you.”Not everyone agrees on the details.
A UK-based monitoring group suggested the gunman may have been linked to Syrian security forces. No group has claimed responsibility so far.
The Pentagon says the incident remains under investigation.
What’s clear is the backdrop. IS may have lost its territory years ago, but the UN estimates thousands of fighters remain.
US troops have been in Syria since 2015 to keep pressure on the group — and this attack shows why.
The takeaway? Even in a “post-ISIS” era, the battlefield hasn’t gone quiet. It’s just changed shape.
