Two US soldiers and a local interpreter were killed in an ISIS ambush near Palmyra, Syria, on Saturday, December 13, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). The attack reportedly involved a single ISIS militant who opened fire on a joint US-Syrian patrol vehicle before being killed in a counter-assault. CENTCOM confirmed the deaths via social media, adding that several others had been injured in earlier related incidents.

US envoy Tom Barrack stated that the attack targeted a joint patrol unit operating in the region, which remains volatile despite years of counterterrorism operations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the assailant was neutralized by accompanying forces. The identities of the fallen soldiers are being withheld until families are notified.

Officials noted that the area where the attack occurred is outside the control of Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Shara, underscoring the persistent instability in central Syria. The incident highlights the enduring threat posed by ISIS remnants and the risks faced by coalition troops stationed in the region.