Several countries condemned an armed ambush in Syria that was carried out by a lone attacker suspected of belonging to the Islamic State group, and that targeted a joint patrol of U.S. forces and the Syrian army near the city of Palmyra (eastern Homs Governorate, central Syria) on Saturday, 13 December 2025.
The attack killed two U.S. service members and one American civilian. According to a statement by U.S. Central Command posted on X, a single Islamic State fighter carried out the ambush targeting U.S. forces, before U.S. troops engaged him and killed him.
Trump vows a decisive response
U.S. President Donald Trump said the attack was carried out by the Islamic State group against the United States and Syria in a highly dangerous area, adding that the response would be very firm.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump mourned three Americans, two soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
Trump added that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was “angry and extremely upset” over the attack.
U.S. Embassy, commitment to defeating terrorism
The U.S. Embassy in Syria condemned the “terrorist” ambush that targeted a joint patrol between the United States and the Syrian government in central Syria.
The embassy expressed sorrow over the killing of three U.S. service members and the accompanying civilian, and wished a speedy recovery to the Syrian soldiers injured in the attack.
It also stressed Washington’s continued commitment to “defeating terrorism,” in cooperation with Syrian partners.
Qatar, rejecting violence and terrorism
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the state’s firm stance rejecting violence, terrorism, and criminal acts, regardless of motives or reasons.
It offered condolences to the victims’ families and to the governments and peoples of the United States and Syria, and wished the wounded a swift recovery.
Jordan affirms support for Syria
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Fuad al-Majali said the kingdom stood in full solidarity with Syria and the United States, rejecting all forms of violence and terrorism that seek to undermine security and stability.
Al-Majali also renewed Jordan’s support for Syria’s reconstruction on foundations that ensure its territorial unity, sovereignty, security, and stability, and free it from terrorism while safeguarding Syrians’ rights.
Turkey offers condolences to Syria and the United States
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry renewed its support for the Syrian government’s efforts to “enhance stability and security in the country and combat terrorism.”
In a statement, the ministry said, “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the attack, as well as to the governments of Syria and the United States, our partners in the International Coalition to fight the Islamic State group.”
Syria, we warned in advance
Commenting on the incident, Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba told the state-run al-Ikhbariya that the Internal Security Command had previously issued warnings to partner forces in the Syrian desert region about the possibility of security breaches or expected Islamic State attacks.
Al-Baba said coalition forces did not take these warnings into account.
He added that an individual suspected of belonging to the Islamic State opened fire at the gate of one of the headquarters in the Palmyra desert area.
This coincided with a tour bringing together the leadership of the International Coalition in Syria and the leadership of internal security in the desert.
Al-Baba said the competent authorities were working to verify the attacker’s organizational links, and that the assessment would focus on whether he was directly connected to the Islamic State group or merely embraced its ideology.
The attacker did not hold any leadership role within internal security and was not an escort for the leadership, al-Baba said.
He also said Syrian security forces and coalition forces managed to neutralize the attacker after a direct clash, without disclosing further details about the investigation so far.
Barrack, “a cowardly terrorist ambush”
U.S. envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack condemned the ambush, describing it as a “cowardly terrorist” attack that targeted a joint patrol of U.S. forces and the Syrian army in central Syria.
Barrack mourned three U.S. service members and civilians, and wished the Syrian soldiers injured in the attack a speedy recovery.
What happened?
According to Enab Baladi’s correspondent, U.S. forces entered Palmyra openly, deep into the Syrian desert, via a convoy of around 15 U.S. military vehicles.
The convoy was accompanied by vehicles belonging to the Syrian army coming from the al-Tanf base, located along Syria’s border area with Iraq and Jordan.
The correspondent said U.S. forces carried out a joint patrol accompanied by Syrian security forces in Palmyra.
The road linking Deir Ezzor and Homs through Palmyra was closed for an hour and a half, before U.S. forces returned to the al-Tanf base.
This coincided with low, intensive flights by International Coalition warplanes over the area.
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