Two Iowa National Guard soldiers and an American civilian interpreter were killed Saturday during a targeted ambush by a suspected ISIS gunman in central Syria, U.S. and state officials confirmed. Three additional Iowa Guard soldiers were wounded in the attack, which occurred near the historic city of Palmyra.
U.S. Central Command said the deaths and injuries resulted from an ambush carried out by a lone ISIS-affiliated attacker using an automatic weapon. The gunman was killed during a subsequent exchange of fire by partner forces, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The five Iowa soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement as part of ongoing counter-ISIS and counter-terrorism operations in the region, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said. Their mission was consistent with U.S. efforts to prevent the re-emergence of ISIS in areas of Syria that remain unstable and contested.
A senior U.S. official told Fox News that preliminary information indicates the attacker had previously been loosely affiliated with Syrian government security forces before later developing connections to ISIS. Officials emphasized the incident does not meet the criteria of a “green-on-blue” attack, as the gunman was not part of the partnered delegation being escorted by U.S. and Syrian forces at the time.
Of the three wounded Iowa National Guard soldiers, two sustained significant injuries and are being treated in stable condition at a hospital in Amman, Jordan. A third soldier suffered superficial injuries and is being treated at a base in Syria, according to Iowa Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn.
The civilian killed in the attack was an American contractor serving as a linguist in support of the mission. The interpreter was not from Iowa, officials said.
The Iowa National Guard confirmed the five soldiers were part of the roughly 250 Iowa Guardsmen currently serving in Syria. The Guard said the names of the fallen will be released Sunday at 5 p.m. local time, following completion of next-of-kin notifications.
“This is a devastating loss for our state and our Guard family,” Osborn said during a press conference at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa. “These soldiers were performing counterterrorism duties in a dangerous environment, and they did so with professionalism and courage.”
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said she personally contacted the families of the two fallen soldiers earlier Saturday.
“Our hearts are heavy today,” Reynolds said. “Two of our soldiers were killed in action, and three others were wounded. I ask all Iowans to keep these families, their fellow soldiers, and all of our deployed Guardsmen in their thoughts and prayers.”
President Donald Trump confirmed the fatalities Saturday and warned of retaliation in a post on Truth Social.
“We mourn the loss of three Great American Patriots in Syria—two soldiers and one civilian interpreter,” Trump wrote. “This was an ISIS attack against the U.S. and Syria in a very dangerous part of the country. There will be very serious retaliation.”
The president later reiterated that message to reporters while departing for the Army-Navy football game in Baltimore, stating simply, “We will retaliate.”
Saturday’s ambush marks the first U.S. combat deaths in Syria since 2019, when four Americans were killed in a suicide bombing in Manbij. Prior to this incident, the most recent U.S. military death in Syria was a non-hostile incident in February 2022.
Iowa’s congressional delegation and state leaders from both parties issued statements mourning the fallen and expressing support for the wounded and their families.
“These brave Iowans paid the ultimate sacrifice,” Sen. Chuck Grassley said. “We are forever indebted to them for their service.”
Sen. Joni Ernst, a combat veteran, called the fallen soldiers “American heroes” and urged continued prayers for the wounded.
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said she had recently seen Iowa Guardsmen deploy and described the news as “our worst fear come true.”
The Iowa National Guard said additional information will be released as it becomes available and once families have been notified.
U.S. forces remain deployed in Syria as part of a multinational effort to prevent ISIS from reconstituting its operational capability, particularly in areas not fully controlled by Syrian government forces.
© 2025 The Salty Soldier. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written consent is strictly prohibited.
