Two US troops, civilian killed in ISIS ambush attack in Syria: CENTCOM

Three Americans were killed Saturday in Syria in an ambush attack by an Islamic State group member, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

“Two US service members and one US civilian were killed, and three service members were injured, as a result of an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman in Syria. The gunman was engaged and killed,” CENTCOM, which oversees the American military in the Middle East, said on X.

The statement said the names of the service members involved would not be released for at least 24 hours, in line with Department of War policy and out of respect for their families, until their next of kin have been formally informed. It added that further details would be shared as more information becomes available.

U.S. Personnel Ambushed by ISIS Gunman in Syria

TAMPA, Fla. – On Dec. 13, two U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian were killed, and three service members were injured, as a result of an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman in Syria. The gunman was engaged and killed.

As a matter…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 13, 2025

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Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the attack occurred as the soldiers “were conducting a key leader engagement” in support of counter-terrorism operations, while US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said the ambush targeted “a joint US–Syrian government patrol.”

“The savage who perpetrated this attack was killed by partner forces,” US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X.

Parnell said the identities of the deceased troops would be withheld until after their families were notified.

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The incident is the first of its kind reported since Islamist-led forces overthrew longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December last year, and rekindled the country’s ties with the United States.

With inputs from agencies

The incident occurred roughly a year after Syria’s former president Bashar Assad fled the country ahead of the advance of opposition fighters into Damascus. Assad later received asylum in Russia and indicated in a statement that he wished to continue resisting.