The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the attack occurred while American personnel were attending a meeting as part of ongoing counter-terrorism operations against ISIS. The assailant was shot dead at the scene by Syrian security forces. Syrian media reported injuries among local security personnel as well. All the wounded were evacuated by air to the US military base at Al-Tanf.
US President Donald Trump described the incident as an attack on both the United States and Syria, warning of “very serious retaliation” against those responsible. He said Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Shara was “angry and upset” over the incident, underlining the shared threat posed by ISIS.
The attack has renewed concerns over the continued presence of ISIS sleeper cells in Syria. Although the group lost territorial control in 2019, US officials estimate it still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters operating across Syria and Iraq. Around 1,000 US troops remain deployed in eastern and northeastern Syria to prevent a resurgence of the group, working alongside the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and, more recently, Syrian security units.
The assault comes at a sensitive moment in US-Syria relations, which have improved since Assad’s ouster in December 2024. Syria has joined the US-led coalition against ISIS, and Washington has eased several sanctions while restoring diplomatic ties earlier this year.
Security across US installations in the region has been tightened following the attack, as American and Syrian authorities continue investigations. The incident underscores the fragile security environment in post-Assad Syria and the persistent threat posed by extremist networks despite political changes in Damascus.
