Two US soldiers and interpreter killed in ambush near Palmyra

Ambush in central Syria

Two US soldiers and a US civilian interpreter were killed in an ambush near Palmyra, US Central Command said, after a lone gunman — described by officials as likely linked to Islamic State — opened fire. Three other US service members were wounded, two of whom were later released from hospital, and the attacker was engaged and killed. Syrian state media said two Syrian service personnel were also injured. The US Army identified the fallen soldiers as Sgt Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, and Sgt William Nathaniel Howard, 29; the interpreter’s name has not been released.

US and Syrian officials exchanged condolences and condemnation in the aftermath. The Pentagon said the patrol was carrying out a “key leader engagement” in an area it described as outside Syrian presidential control, and President Trump warned of "very serious retaliation." US defence leaders vowed to pursue anyone who targets Americans; Washington and Damascus have also recently signaled cooperation against IS as part of an international coalition, even as the UN estimates the group still has thousands of fighters in Syria and Iraq. as reported by BBC

This story has also been reported by: New York Times