Trump pledges retaliation after 3 Americans are killed in Syria attack that the US blames on IS

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — President Donald Trump warned Saturday of “very serious retaliation” after an attack in Syria killed two U.S. service members and one American civilian, an assault the United States attributed to the Islamic State group.

“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,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

At the White House, Trump told reporters that Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was “devastated by what happened” and emphasized that Syria is working alongside U.S. forces. In his post, Trump said al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed by this attack.”

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa noted that the soldiers were members of the Iowa National Guard, where she once served. “Our Iowa National Guard family is hurting as we mourn the loss of two of our own and pray for the recovery of the three soldiers wounded,” she said.

U.S. Central Command reported that three service members were wounded in the ambush by a lone IS attacker in central Syria. Trump said the wounded troops “seem to be doing pretty well.” The gunman was killed in the attack, U.S. officials said. Syrian authorities reported that members of their security forces were also injured.

The attack near historic Palmyra was the first to kill U.S. troops in Syria since the fall of President Bashar Assad a year ago.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the civilian who died was a U.S. interpreter and that the assault targeted soldiers involved in ongoing counter-terrorism operations. The attack is under active investigation.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said the names of the fallen soldiers would be withheld until 24 hours after next-of-kin notifications are complete. “Our hearts are heavy today, and our prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of our soldiers killed in action,” she said.

SANA, Syria’s state-run news agency, reported that the casualties were evacuated by helicopter to the Al-Tanf garrison near the Iraqi and Jordanian borders. Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Nour al-Din al-Baba said the gunman, linked to IS, opened fire at a military post gate. Al-Baba added that authorities were investigating whether the attacker was an actual IS member or simply influenced by its ideology.

Later, al-Baba clarified that the gunman had been part of the Internal Security force in the desert but held no command role or bodyguard position. Al-Baba said the attacker had been flagged in a recent evaluation for possible extremist views, with a decision on his status expected the following day, but the assault occurred on a Saturday, a day off for state institutions.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X: “Let it be known, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you.”

U.S. officials did not confirm the attacker’s connection to Syrian security forces. A Pentagon official, speaking anonymously, said the strike occurred in an area outside Syrian government control.

The U.S. maintains hundreds of troops in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting IS. Relations with Syria have warmed since al-Sharaa replaced Assad. Last month, al-Sharaa made a historic visit to Washington, marking the first White House visit by a Syrian leader since the country’s independence from France in 1946.

Al-Sharaa, who once had ties to al-Qaida and was once the target of a $10 million U.S. bounty, led the rebel forces that toppled Assad in December 2024 and became interim leader in January. Syria recently joined the international coalition against IS as the country rebuilds relations with the West.

U.S. troops have maintained a presence in areas including the Al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria, training local forces and conducting operations against IS. Attacks on U.S. personnel have occurred before, including a 2019 blast in Manbij that killed two service members and two American civilians.

Mroue reported from Beirut and Seung Min Kim from Washington. Associated Press writer Ben Finley in Washington contributed.