Trump Promises Retaliation After ISIS Kills U.S. Troops And Civilian In Syria
President Donald Trump vowed swift retaliation after an ISIS attack in Syria killed two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian American interpreter, with three additional soldiers wounded.
Trump addressed the attack in a post Saturday, confirming that ISIS was responsible and saying the Syrian government was also outraged by the incident.
“We mourn the loss of three great American patriots in Syria — two soldiers and one civilian interpreter,” Trump said. “We also pray for the three wounded soldiers, who have been confirmed to be doing well.”
“This was an ISIS attack against the United States and Syria in a very dangerous region that is not fully under Syrian control,” he added. “The President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack. There will be very serious retaliation.”
? JUST IN: President Trump, while leaving the White House, PROMISES to avenge the deaths of U.S. forces in Syria
“We mourn the loss of 3 great patriots in Syria… we pray for them, and their parents, and their loved ones… and we WILL retaliate.” pic.twitter.com/11Oh2Lyljj
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 13, 2025
Speaking to reporters outside the White House before departing for the Army–Navy football game, Trump said the troops were killed in an ambush while operating alongside Syrian forces.
“It was a terrible thing,” Trump said. “We mourn the loss of three great people. These were great patriots. Syria was fighting alongside us, and the new president of Syria is devastated by what happened.”
“This was an ISIS attack on both the United States and Syria,” he continued. “We pray for the families, and we will retaliate.”
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the attack occurred near Palmyra, Syria, during a key leader engagement supporting ongoing counter-ISIS operations in the region.
“Two United States Army soldiers and one civilian U.S. interpreter were killed, and three soldiers were wounded,” Parnell said. “Their mission was in support of counterterrorism operations.”
Parnell said the names of the fallen and their unit information are being withheld until next of kin notifications are completed and that the incident remains under active investigation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also addressed the attack, stating that the individual responsible had already been killed by partner forces.
“The savage who carried out this attack was killed,” Hegseth said. “If you target Americans anywhere in the world, the United States will hunt you down and destroy you.”
The attack underscores continued instability in parts of Syria where ISIS remnants remain active despite years of joint counterterrorism operations involving U.S. and allied forces.