December 2025 Palmyra attack

December 2025 Palmyra attack
Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar (left) and William Nathaniel Howard (right), the two soldiers killed in the attack
Location	Palmyra, Syria
Date	13 December 2025
Target	United States Armed Forces Syrian Armed Forces
Attack type	Ambush
Deaths	2 US troops 1 civilian interpreter
Injured	3 US troops 2 Syrian troops
Perpetrators	Rogue Syrian security forces member
No. of participants	1 gunman (killed in action)

The December 2025 Palmyra attack was an ambush carried out on 13 December 2025 against Syrian and US troops stationed near the Syrian city of Palmyra. The attack was conducted by a lone Syrian security officer, ^{[1] [2]} allegedly affiliated with the Islamic State. The attack resulted in the deaths of two US soldiers and one US interpreter, which were the first US military casualties in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime. ^{[1] [2]}

Attack

On 13 December 2025, a Syrian police officer, suspected of being affiliated with the Islamic State, ^{[1] [2]} carried out an ambush attack on Syrian and US troops stationed in Palmyra. The attack occurred a month after Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a political cooperation agreement with the United States-led coalition against the Islamic State, which coincided with al-Sharaa's visit to the White House. ^[3]

The soldiers were stationed for counter-terrorist measures when they came under gunfire by a lone gunman. The gunman was shot and killed by the Syrian security forces. Two Syrian troops were also reported to be wounded. The injured troops were evacuated to the Al-Tanf military base controlled by the United States. ^[4]

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that the attacker was a member of the security forces of Syria. ^[5] Syrian interior minister Noureddine al-Baba in a broadcast interview on the public television of Syria stated that the gunman had been a member of the security forces, whose dismissal for his "extremist" views had been planned for 14 December. He stated that the gunman had infiltrated a meeting between a delegation from the United States to combat the Islamic State and the Syrian Armed Forces. ^[6]

Responses

Syria arrested five suspects in the shooting of American troops at Palmyra. Syria's Interior Ministry stated that arrests took place in coordination with the international coalition forces and special Syrian units. On 14 December, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a discussion about the issue with the Syrian foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani on Sunday. ^[7]

US/Jordanian military response

This section is an excerpt from Operation Hawkeye Strike.[ edit ]

Operation Hawkeye Strike was a retaliatory military action by the United States against the Islamic State, following the December 2025 Palmyra attack by a Syrian police officer, suspected of being affiliated with the Islamic State, that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter. ^{[8] [9]}

Iowa National Guard soldier signs a GBU-31 JDAM prior to Operation Hawkeye Strike, 18 December 2025

Reactions

• United States: President Donald Trump blamed ISIL for the attack and vowed retaliation. ^[10]
• Syria: President Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed condolences for the victims and vowed to promote stability in the region. ^[11]
• Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia expressed strong condemnation of the attack on US and Syrian troops in Palmyra. ^[12]
• United Arab Emirates: The United Arab Emirates expressed strong condemnation of the incident and called for undermining safety and stability in the region. ^[13]
• Bahrain: In a statement issued by the Foreign ministry of Bahrain, Bahrain condemned the ISIS attack and expressed solidarity with Syria and the United States. ^[14]
• Iraq: The foreign ministry of Iraq condemned the attack and stated that "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns the terrorist attack that targeted a joint patrol of Syrian internal security forces and U.S. forces near the city of Palmyra, which resulted in a number of casualties". ^[15]
• Jordan: The foreign ministry spokesperson Ambassador Fouad al Majali affirmed Syria and the United States with full solidarity of Jordan and condemned the attack. ^[16]
• Turkey: In an official statement on Sunday, Turkey condemned the attack and expressed condolences for the victims of the Palmyra attack. ^[17]

References

1. Jared Szuba (19 December 2025). "US bombs ISIS targets in Syria in retaliation for Palmyra insider attack". Al-Monitor . Wikidata   Q137473335. Archived from the original on 20 December 2025.
2. "Attacker who killed US troops in Syria was a recent recruit to security forces, official says". Politico . 14 December 2025. ISSN   2381-1595. Wikidata   Q137476939. Archived from the original on 14 December 2025.
3. "Two US soldiers and an interpreter killed in Syria ambush attack". SBS News. 14 December 2025.
4. "3 Americans Killed in ISIS Attack in Syria, Trump Says, Vowing to Retaliate". New York Times . 13 December 2025.
5. "Three Americans killed in Syria by suspected Islamic State gunman, Pentagon says". The Guardian. 13 December 2025. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 15 December 2025.
6. "Syrian Who Killed U.S. Soldiers Was Member of Security Forces, Officials Say" . New York Times . Archived from the original on 14 December 2025.
7. "Syria arrests five suspects over shooting of US, Syrian troops in Palmyra". Reuters .
8. Jared Szuba (19 December 2025). "US bombs ISIS targets in Syria in retaliation for Palmyra insider attack". Al-Monitor . Wikidata   Q137473335. Archived from the original on 20 December 2025.
9. "Attacker who killed US troops in Syria was a recent recruit to security forces, official says". Politico . 14 December 2025. ISSN   2381-1595. Wikidata   Q137476939. Archived from the original on 14 December 2025.
10. "Trump vows to retaliate after US citizens killed in Syria". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
11. "Syrian president offers condolences to Trump, vows to preserve stability after ISIS attack". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
12. "Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Syrian-US forces near Palmyra". Al Arabiya English. 14 December 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
13. "UAE Strongly Condemns Terrorist Attack on U.S.–Syria Patrol in Palmyra". www.mofa.gov.ae. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
14. "Bahrain condemns ISIS attack in Palmyra, reaffirms solidarity with Syria". 14 December 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
15. "Iraq Condemns Palmyra Attack, Calls for Joint Action to Combat Terrorism". welattv.net. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
16. "Jordan condemns the terrorist attack on joint Syrian-US security patrol near Palmyra". 14 December 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
17. "Turkey condemns ISIS attack on joint Syrian–US patrol near Palmyra". 14 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.