A deadly shooting in central Syria has revealed disturbing details about extremist infiltration within state institutions. Syrian authorities confirmed that the gunman who killed three Americans in the Palmyra region was a serving member of the security forces who was due to be dismissed for extremist views. The attack has intensified regional tensions and raised serious questions about security oversight.
Interior Ministry Confirms Attacker’s Security Force Role
Syria’s Interior Ministry said on Sunday that the attacker was part of the country’s security forces at the time of the assault. Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba stated that authorities had already decided to dismiss the individual for holding extremist ideas. The formal termination was scheduled for Sunday, but the attack took place a day earlier.
Officials said the decision to fire him followed internal assessments that identified ideological radicalisation. Despite monitoring, the suspect was still in uniform when the shooting occurred.
Deadly Attack in Historic Palmyra
The shooting took place on Saturday in the Palmyra region, an area known for its ancient UNESCO-listed ruins. Two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in what Syrian officials described as a terrorist attack. The United States said the assault was carried out by a Daesh militant, who was later killed.
The incident is the first such attack reported since the removal of longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December last year. It has marked a dangerous turning point in Syria’s post-Assad security landscape.
Arrests and Internal Investigation
Following the attack, Syrian authorities launched a sweeping internal probe. A Syrian security official told AFP that 11 members of the general security forces were arrested and questioned. The gunman had served in the forces for more than 10 months and had been deployed in multiple cities before his transfer to Palmyra.
Officials are now investigating whether there were lapses in screening, supervision, or intelligence sharing within the security apparatus.
Conflicting Accounts of the Attack Location
Syrian military sources said the shooting occurred during a meeting between Syrian and American officers at a Syrian base in Palmyra. Another defence official said US forces had arrived by land from the Al-Tanf military base near the Jordanian border and had toured Palmyra and the T-4 airbase.
However, a Pentagon official disputed this version, saying the attack took place in an area not fully controlled by the Syrian government. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said US troops were conducting a key leader engagement linked to counterterrorism operations.
US Response and Rising Tensions
US President Donald Trump strongly condemned the attack and vowed “very serious retaliation.” He described the assault as a Daesh attack in a dangerous region not fully under Syrian control. US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said the ambush targeted a joint US-Syrian patrol.
Trump also confirmed that three other US soldiers injured in the incident were recovering well.
Daesh Threat Still Active in Syria
Despite its territorial defeat in 2019, Daesh continues to operate in Syria’s vast desert regions. Syrian officials acknowledged that prior warnings had been issued about possible Daesh infiltration in the Palmyra area. Interior Ministry officials said allied forces failed to act on those warnings in time.
Last month, Syria formally joined the US-led global coalition against Daesh during President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington. The attack has now cast a shadow over those renewed security efforts.
Condemnation and Calls for Accountability
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani strongly condemned the attack and pledged cooperation with international partners. State media reported that two Syrian security personnel were also wounded during the shooting.
The incident has underscored the persistent extremist threat in Syria and the urgent need for deeper reforms within security institutions.
