Details were revealed about the attack that took place near the city of Palmyra in central Syria, on Saturday, and led to the killing of two American soldiers and an American translator, while the Syrian Interior Ministry said that the international coalition forces did not take into account warnings about possible attacks by ISIS.
The US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) announced that the attack – which also left three casualties – occurred during a meeting between American military personnel and local leaders.
The US Central Command stated that a lone gunman from ISIS ambushed an American patrol, clashed with him and killed him.
In turn, a Syrian security source told Al Jazeera that a person from ISIS cells targeted the external guard of American military leaders, and then a clash ensued between the guard members and the attacker, who was killed.
The security source added that the attacker was unable to reach the room that included the American leaders during the meeting.
Today’s most prominent scenes following an attack that killed three Americans and wounded two Syrian army members in the city of Palmyra in the Homs countryside pic.twitter.com/escvP6sbUP
– Syria Now – News (@AJSyriaNowN) December 13, 2025
In the same context, the Wall Street Journal quoted an American official as saying that the attack occurred during a meeting between an American officer and a Syrian Interior Ministry official in Palmyra.
The same official added, “The lone gunman appeared from a window and opened fire, and the American and Syrian forces responded and killed him.”
American forces intensified their deployment in the region following the attack.
Advance warnings
The Syrian Al-Ekhbariya channel quoted Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Nour al-Din al-Baba as saying that the Internal Security Command had sent advance warnings to partner forces in the international coalition about preliminary information indicating the possibility of a breach or attacks by ISIS, but these warnings were not taken into account, he said.
The spokesman added that the attack occurred at the entrance to a fortified headquarters of the Internal Security Command after the end of a joint tour between the two sides.
The Pope confirmed that the perpetrator of the attack does not have any leadership description within Internal Security and is not classified as an accompaniment to the Commander of Internal Security, as some news claimed, which he described as inaccurate.
The spokesman stated that there are more than 5,000 members affiliated with the Internal Security Command in the Syrian desert, and there are evaluations of the members on a weekly basis.
He added that an assessment issued on the 10th of this month against the attacker indicated that “he may have takfiri or extremist ideas,” and that a decision would be issued against him on Sunday (December 14).
An American holiday
US President Donald Trump said that the United States would respond to ISIS if its forces were subjected to another attack.
Trump explained, in statements he made to reporters in front of the White House, that the three Americans were killed in an ambush, and that what happened was an attack launched by ISIS against both the United States and Syria.
He pointed out that the attack was carried out by the organization “in a very dangerous area in Syria, not completely controlled” by the Syrian government.
Also, Trump said on his Truth Social platform, “Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is angry and very upset about this attack.”
US President Donald Trump announces the killing of three Americans in the Palmyra attack, including two soldiers and a civilian translator, and says that the attack was carried out by ISIS in an area he described as dangerous. pic.twitter.com/h2EaWF6wEj
– Syria Now – News (@AJSyriaNowN) December 13, 2025
For his part, the American envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, said that any attack on the Americans will be met with swift and decisive punishment, as he put it.
He added, “Alongside the Syrian government, we will relentlessly pursue every individual, facilitator, financier, and accomplice involved in this heinous act.”
Barak welcomed “the strong commitment of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who shares our firm determination to identify the perpetrators of this attack, prosecute them, and hold them accountable.”
The American envoy indicated that limited numbers of American forces are still deployed in Syria to defeat ISIS and protect America from terrorism, he said.
Convictions
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani said, in a post on the X website, that his country strongly condemns “the terrorist attack that targeted a joint anti-terrorism patrol between Syria and the United States near Palmyra.”
He added, “We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and to the American government and people, and we wish the wounded a speedy recovery.”
Likewise, Jordan expressed its condemnation in the strongest terms of this attack, affirming its full solidarity with Syria and the United States.
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry reiterated “the Kingdom’s support for sister Syria in rebuilding on the foundations that guarantee its territorial integrity, sovereignty, security and stability, rid it of terrorism, and preserve the rights of all Syrians.”
The State of Qatar also condemned this attack, and reiterated its “firm position of rejecting violence, terrorism and criminal acts, regardless of the motives and reasons.”
In a statement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry expressed its condolences “to the families of the victims and to the government and people of the United States of America and the Syrian Arab Republic.”
Likewise, the Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed its condemnation of the attack, and stressed that Ankara will continue to support the Syrian government’s efforts to “enhance stability and security in the country and combat terrorism.”