Trump pledges retaliation after two US soldiers, one civilian interpreter killed in Syria

By Eyad Kourdi, WASHINGTON United States 

The US President Donald Trump said Saturday that there will be “very serious retaliation” after two US soldiers and one civilian interpreter were killed in an ambush in Syria on Saturday.

Three others were wounded in the attack, which was carried out by a single ISIS gunman, US Central Command and the Department of Defense said in statements Saturday.

“We will retaliate,” Trump told reporters at the White House. He said the country is mourning “the loss of the three great American patriots” and praying for the three wounded, who “seem to be doing pretty well.”

The president noted the US’ cooperation with Syrian forces. “Syria, by the way, was fighting along with us,” Trump said, adding that Syria’s new president is “devastated by what happened.”

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office said in a statement late Saturday that the soldiers were members of the state’s National Guard. 

The statement said the soldiers’ names will be released at 5 p.m. Sunday. Reynolds’ office said three additional Iowa National Guard members were wounded, two of whom were immediately evacuated to a medical facility.

“Our hearts are heavy today, and our prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of our soldiers killed in action,” Reynolds said. “I ask that all Iowans stand united in supporting them and lifting them up in prayer during this incredibly difficult time.”

The statement said about 1,800 Iowa Army National Guard soldiers began deploying to the Middle East in late May to support Operation Inherent Resolve, the US mission to defeat ISIS.

The soldiers’ “mission was in support of on-going counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism operations in the region,” wrote Sean Parnell, chief spokesperson for the Pentagon, in a statement on X. 

He added that the names of those killed were being withheld until next of kin are notified.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the attacker was killed by partner forces.

“Let it be known, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you,” Hegseth wrote on X.

Minutes after Trump spoke to reporters, he repeated his warning of retaliation in a social media post, calling the incident “an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them,” and saying Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa “is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack.”

“There will be very serious retaliation,” Trump wrote.