Several U.S. troops were wounded Saturday when gunfire erupted during a visit to a historic town in central Syria. The attack occurred near Palmyra, with reports indicating that two members of Syria’s security forces were also injured. The wounded were evacuated by helicopter to the al-Tanf garrison, located near the border with Iraq and Jordan.
Authorities said the attacker was killed, though few details about the incident have been released. At least three Syrian security personnel and multiple U.S. service members were reported injured, with the attacker reportedly linked to Syria’s security forces.
The U.S. maintains a significant troop presence in eastern Syria as part of a coalition effort to combat the Islamic State group. While IS was largely defeated in 2019, sleeper cells continue to carry out attacks, with the United Nations estimating 5,000 to 7,000 fighters remain active in Syria and Iraq.
U.S. forces have previously been targeted in Syria, including a deadly 2019 attack in Manbij that killed two service members and two American civilians. The current deployment includes training local forces at locations such as al-Tanf as part of a broader campaign against IS.
Syria’s relations with Western countries have shifted in recent months, with the nation joining the international coalition against IS and engaging diplomatically with the U.S. following the fall of President Bashar Assad’s long-standing rule.