🔗 Share this article Three US Citizens Killed in Syrian Territory by Suspected Islamic State Gunman, US Defense Department Reports A deadly attack in central Syria on Saturday resulted in the deaths of two US army soldiers and one American civilian interpreter, with several other people wounded, as stated by the US Department of Defense. This offensive on US troops in the historic city of Tadmur represents the first incident to inflict casualties following the fall of ex-leader Bashar al-Assad approximately a year prior. "This assault took place while the service members were conducting a key leader engagement," a Pentagon spokesperson said. "The operation was in aid of ongoing anti-ISIS / anti-terror missions in the area." The attacker behind the gunfire was killed by allied troops, according to a declaration from the US defense secretary. Specifics Withheld For Privacy US CENTCOM indicated that, to respect the privacy for the families and in accordance with policy, the identities of the deceased personnel will be withheld until a full day after their families have been informed. Earlier reports from local news agencies and a conflict observatory stated that shots erupted during a tour by American troops to the area of Tadmur. Varying Reports Surface According to a government news agency, a pair of Syria's security force and several US service members were injured in the exchange. The injured were reportedly evacuated by aircraft to a military base near the border with Iraq and Jordan. A spokesperson for Syria's interior ministry said a shooter affiliated with Islamic State began shooting at the gate of a army position. Authorities are investigating whether the assailant was a formal member of the organization or merely adhered to its radical beliefs. This spokesperson also denied a report from a UK-based rights group that the attacker was a member of the security forces. Continued American Deployment in the Region The US currently has a military presence stationed in eastern Syria as a component of a broader coalition combating the Islamic State. Despite being declared defeated in the country in 2019, the organization's sleeper cells still execute deadly attacks. UN assessments suggest the faction still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq. US troops have previously been attacked in the before. Among the deadliest previous attacks occurred in 2019 in the north, when an blast killed American soldiers and two American civilians, among others.