(The Hill) — President Trump told reporters on Saturday that “we will retaliate” after two U.S. service members and one civilian were killed with several others injured in an ISIS ambush in Syria.
The president expressed his condolences to the families of those killed, whom he referred to as “three great patriots.” Those who were hurt in the attack were doing well, Trump added. The president also posted on his Truth Social platform that the retaliation will be “very serious.”
Trump made the remarks to reporters before heading to Baltimore for the Army-Navy football game at M&T Bank Stadium.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the attack earlier on Saturday, adding in a post on the social platform X that the lone ISIS gunman “was engaged and killed.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also confirmed that the shooter “who perpetrated this attack was killed by partner forces.”
“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,” CENTCOM’s post reads. “Updates will be provided as they become available.”
The United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights alleged that the shooter was a member of the Syrian security force, The Associated Press reported.
Troops were on a joint field patrol with Syrian security forces near the city of Palmyra before they were attacked, according to the Syrian government-backed news agency SANA. Three Syrian security members were also injured.
The shooting “took place in an area where the Syrian President does not have control,” a Pentagon official previously told The Hill.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell wrote on X that the attack was under investigation.
The shooting takes place after Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Trump at the White House last month. Al-Sharaa took over as the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad fell last year. Assad sought asylum in Russia, and has indicated he will keep fighting opposition forces.
Al-Sharaa is a former al Qaeda operative who was once jailed by American forces in Iraq. Trump removed his designated global terrorist status before their meeting.