Chicago – December 15, 2025
Two U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian were killed Saturday after an ambush by an ISIS gunman in central Syria, U.S. Central Command said. Three other service members were injured.
The attack, which took place in the city of Palmyra, comes a year after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the lifting of U.S. sanctions.
President Trump said on Truth Social that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is “extremely angry and disturbed by this attack” and that “there will be very serious retaliation.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media that the gunman was killed by partner forces.
“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.
