Central Command said service members and a civilian were ambushed by a lone “Islamic State” gunman in central Syria. It is the first deadly incident towards US forces since Bashar Assad was ousted last year.US forces have long been stationed in Syria to assist the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.The attack occurred as the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement. Their mission was in support of on-going counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism
US Central Command said service members and a civilian were ambushed by a lone “Islamic State” gunman in central Syria. It is the first deadly incident towards US forces since Bashar Assad was ousted last year.
US forces have long been stationed in Syria to assist the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Saturday that two US service members and a civilian were killed by a lone gunman affiliated with the so-called “Islamic State” in central Syria.
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US citizens killed by ‘IS gunman’ in Syria, CENTCOM says
Wesley Dockery with AP, Reuters
57 minutes ago57 minutes ago
US Central Command said two service members and a civilian were ambushed by a lone “Islamic State” gunman in central Syria. It is the first deadly incident towards US forces since Bashar Assad was ousted last year.
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Crewmen sit inside Bradley fighting vehicles at a US military base at an undisclosed location in Northeastern Syria, Monday, Nov. 11, 2019
US forces have long been stationed in Syria to assist the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (FILE: November 11, 2019)Image: Darko Bandic/AP Photo/picture alliance
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US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Saturday that two US service members and a civilian were killed by a lone gunman affiliated with the so-called “Islamic State” in central Syria.
What do we know so far?
In post on X, CENTCOM said the ambush also left three other service members wounded. “The gunman was engaged and killed,” CENTCOM added.
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said the soldiers in Palmyra were conducting a “key leader engagement” in support of anti-IS and counterterrorism operations in the region.
“The soldiers’ names, as well as identifying information about their units, are being withheld until 24 hours after the next of kin notification,” Parnell said, while adding that an investigation is underway.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who is also known as the Secretary of War, called the attacker a “savage” 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,” Hegseth said.
US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said he strongly condemns the “cowardly terrorist ambush targeting a joint US-Syrian government patrol in central Syria.
What do we know so far?
In post on X, CENTCOM said the ambush also left three other service members wounded. “The gunman was engaged and killed,” CENTCOM added.
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said the soldiers in Palmyra were conducting a “key leader engagement” in support of anti-IS and counterterrorism operations in the region.
