US Troops Ambushed in Syria

Two United States service members and one American civilian were killed, and three others wounded, in an ambush by a lone Islamic State member in central Syria. This marks the first casualties for United States troops in Syria since the fall of President Bashar Assad a year ago. United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed a ruthless response to those who target Americans. The attack occurred near Palmyra, with Syrian security forces also sustaining injuries. The United States — United States Central Command reported the incident, withholding the identities of the deceased. The United States maintains a military presence in Syria to combat Islamic State, whose sleeper cells continue to operate despite their battlefield defeat in 2019. Syria has recently improved diplomatic relations with Western countries and joined the international coalition fighting Islamic State.