A Trio of Americans Killed in Syrian Territory by Suspected Islamic State Gunman, US Defense Department Says

A fatal attack in the heart of Syria on Saturday resulted in the deaths of two US army soldiers and a US civilian translator, with several other people wounded, according to the Pentagon.

The assault on US troops in the historic town of Tadmur marks the first incident to cause fatalities since the fall of ex-leader Bashar al-Assad approximately a year prior.

"The attack took place while the soldiers were conducting a high-level meeting," a Pentagon spokesperson said. "The operation was in support of on-going counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism missions in the region."

The assailant responsible for the gunfire was killed by partner forces, as confirmed by a declaration from the US defense secretary.

Details Withheld For Privacy

Central Command indicated that, to respect the privacy for the loved ones and in accordance with standard procedure, the identities of the deceased personnel will be withheld until a full day after their families have been informed.

Earlier reports from Syrian state media and a conflict observatory said that shots erupted during a tour by US soldiers to the area of Palmyra.

Varying Accounts Surface

Per a government media outlet, a pair of local security forces and a number of US service members were injured in the incident. Those hurt were reportedly evacuated by aircraft to a military base near the frontier with neighboring countries.

A spokesperson for Syria's interior ministry claimed a gunman affiliated with ISIS began shooting at the entrance of a military post. Authorities are investigating whether the assailant was a card-carrying member of the group or merely adhered to its extreme ideology.

This spokesperson also refuted a claim from a Britain-based monitoring group that the attacker was a member of the security forces.

Continued US Presence in the Region

The United States maintains a military presence deployed in Syria's east as a component of a broader coalition combating the ISIS militant group.

Even after being militarily routed in Syria in recent years, the group's dormant networks continue to execute lethal strikes. UN assessments suggest the faction still has thousands of fighters in Syria and Iraq.

US troops have previously been attacked in the past. Among the deadliest previous attacks occurred in that year in the north, when an explosion killed American soldiers and US civilians, among additional casualties.