Trump Warns of ‘Very Serious Retaliation’ After ISIS Attack Kills US Soldiers in Syria:

Former US President Donald Trump warned of “very serious retaliation” after two American service members and one US civilian were killed in a deadly attack in Syria on Saturday. The United States has blamed the attack on the Islamic State (ISIS) group. The shooting happened in central Syria, near the historic city of Palmyra, during an ambush carried out by a lone gunman. According to US Central Command, three additional US service members were wounded in the attack but are recovering. The attacker was shot and killed by US forces. Trump shared his reaction in a post on his Truth Social platform, calling the incident an “ISIS attack against the United States.” He said the area where the attack took place is “very dangerous” and not fully controlled by Syrian authorities. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was “devastated” by the incident. Trump added that al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the attack and stressed that Syrian forces are working alongside US troops in the fight against ISIS. Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa confirmed that the two soldiers killed were members of the Iowa National Guard. Ernst, who previously served in the Guard herself, said the loss was deeply painful. “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. The Pentagon confirmed that the American civilian killed in the attack was a US interpreter who was supporting military operations. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the soldiers were involved in ongoing counter-terrorism missions when the shooting happened. He added that the incident is still under investigation. Syrian state media reported that the attack also wounded members of Syria’s security forces. The injured were evacuated by helicopter to the US-run al-Tanf military base near the borders of Iraq and Jordan. A spokesman for Syria’s Interior Ministry, Nour al-Din al-Baba, said the gunman opened fire at the gate of a military post. He initially said the attacker was linked to ISIS or influenced by extremist ideology. Later, he stated that the attacker was a member of Syria’s Internal Security forces stationed in the desert. Al-Baba explained that the attacker did not hold a command position and was not a bodyguard for any senior official. He added that around 5,000 people have joined the Internal Security forces in desert areas and are evaluated weekly. According to al-Baba, an evaluation conducted three days before the attack suggested the attacker may have extremist views, and a decision about his case was expected soon. However, he said the attack happened on a Saturday, when government offices were closed. US officials did not confirm whether the attacker was part of Syria’s security forces. When asked about the claim, a Pentagon official said only that the attack occurred in an area not fully controlled by the Syrian government. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a strong warning on social media, saying that anyone who targets Americans “will be hunted down” and face deadly consequences. This was the first attack on US troops in Syria that resulted in fatalities since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad one year ago. Assad was removed from power in December 2024 after rebel forces, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, captured Damascus. Al-Sharaa later became Syria’s interim leader in January. US-Syria relations have improved since Assad’s fall. Al-Sharaa made a historic visit to Washington last month, becoming the first Syrian leader to visit the White House since Syria gained independence in 1946. The visit followed the US decision to lift long-standing sanctions imposed during Assad’s rule. Despite improved relations, the situation in Syria remains unstable. The US continues to keep hundreds of troops in eastern and southern Syria as part of an international coalition fighting ISIS, a group that still carries out deadly attacks in the region.

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