Trump vows 'very serious retaliation' against ISIS after deadly Syria ambush kills US soldiers
In response to a recent ambush by an ISIS gunman in Syria that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. Army soldiers and an American interpreter, President Trump declared intentions for 'very serious retaliation' against ISIS. The attack occurred during a key mission aimed at countering ISIS activities, leaving three other soldiers wounded but in stable condition. Trump emphasized the dangerous nature of the region, which is not fully controlled by ISIS, and highlighted the anger of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa regarding the incident. As the U.S. military presence in Syria is set to diminish significantly by year's end, the implications of this attack on U.S. strategy in the region could be substantial, with ongoing discussions anticipated regarding military responses.
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The ambush occurred while U.S. soldiers were engaged in a key leader engagement, part of broader counter-terrorism operations in Syria. Following the attack, the injured soldiers were evacuated to the al-Tanf garrison near the Iraq and Jordan borders.
Trump's statement on Truth Social confirmed the intent of serious retaliation and described the attack as part of a broader ISIS threat in a volatile region. He expressed gratitude for the attention given to the incident.
The gunman responsible for the attack was killed by partner forces, as confirmed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, ensuring that the immediate threat was neutralized.
As of June 2025, approximately 1,500 U.S. troops remained in Syria, with expectations that this number would reduce to a few hundred by the end of the year following Pentagon-led withdrawals.
The U.S. military initially established eight bases in Syria in 2014 to combat ISIS, though three have since been closed or transferred to local forces as the mission evolved over time.