...
By Peter Aitken
Politics Weekend Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Saturday confirmed that the man who led an attack that killed two U.S. Army soldiers and one civilian in Syria had been killed by "partner forces" during the attack.
"The savage who perpetrated this attack was killed by partner forces," Hegseth wrote in a message posted 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."
Why It Matters
The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad created an opportunity for the U.S. and Syria to start fresh as new leadership in the country seeks closer ties to the Pentagon to build stronger security cooperation.
Read More on News
The U.S. had no diplomatic relations with Syria under Assad, but the Trump administration has courted closer ties between the two countries, even hosting interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Washington last month where he held talks with President Donald Trump.
The interim government and its military forces have committed themselves to helping the U.S. fight the presence of the Islamic State militant group (ISIS). Hundreds of U.S. troops are deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition to fight the designated terrorist organization and find themselves amid a complex pivot in a vulnerable country.
In 2019, ISIS was defeated on the battlefield in Syria, but the group’s sleeper cells still carry out deadly attacks in the country. The United Nations (U.N.) says the group still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
...
What To Know
Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin first reported on the attack, which occurred Saturday, saying that a senior U.S. official had confirmed multiple injuries from an "ambush" in Syria.
U.S. Central Command later confirmed the attack and identified the assailant only as an "ISIS gunman."
Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesperson, then confirmed not only the attack, which took place in Palmyra, but the deaths of two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian U.S. interpreter. Three other people were wounded.
Parnell said the attack took place as the soldiers conducted "a key leader engagement" in support of "on-going counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism operations in the region."
The names of the soldiers and identifying information about their units are being withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin.
The wounded service members were taken by helicopter to the al-Tanf garrison near the border with Iraq and Jordan to receive treatment.
What People Are Saying
U.S. Central Command in a post on X, in part: "On Dec. 13, two U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian were killed, and three service members were injured, as a result of an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman in Syria. The gunman was engaged and killed. As a matter of respect for the families and in accordance with Department of War policy, the identities of the service members will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified."
What Happens Next?
Parnell said that the attack remains under investigation.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
Update 12/13/25, 1:06 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines