U.S. President Donald Trump has described the ambush that targeted a convoy of Syrian and American troops near Palmyra in central Syria as an attack carried out by ISIS, resulting in three fatalities and three wounded.
“It was an ISIS attack,” Trump said, adding emphatically, “We will retaliate.” Referring to the condition of the injured, he stated that they “are doing well.”
Trump also addressed the incident in a post on Truth Social, where he expressed mourning for the victims.
“We mourn the loss of three outstanding Americans, two soldiers and one translator. We pray for the recovery of the three wounded, who I am told are doing well. This was an ISIS attack against the United States and Syria in a very dangerous area,” Trump wrote.
Earlier, two Syrian officials told Reuters that a joint convoy of Syrian and American forces—part of the U.S.-led international coalition fighting the Islamic State—came under gunfire.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed that the American delegation was in Palmyra on a support mission for ongoing counterterrorism operations against ISIS in the region.
“The attack is under investigation,” he added.
