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On December 13, 2025, American families woke up to the worst kind of news: two U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian interpreter were killed in an ambush near Palmyra, Syria, and three other service members were wounded during what U.S. Central Command described as a deliberate attack. This was not a training accident or friendly fire — it was an ISIS ambush targeting Americans in the field.
CENTCOM confirmed the gunman was a lone Islamic State attacker who was engaged and killed by partner forces, but that small comfort won’t bring back the fallen. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rightly vowed that anyone who targets Americans will be hunted down, and that message must be matched by relentless action, not hollow words. The bravery of the soldiers on the ground stands in stark contrast to the soft approach that lets ISIS remnants regroup.
Officials said the troops were conducting a “key leader engagement” in support of ongoing counter-ISIS operations — the kind of on-the-ground diplomacy and security work America needs to deny terror groups safe havens. The Pentagon is withholding names until families are notified, and the attack remains under active investigation as the wounded are treated and evacuated. Americans should demand a full and transparent accounting of how this ambush happened.
Make no mistake: this tragedy exposes the consequences of inconsistent policy toward our enemies. Washington still keeps roughly 2,000 troops in Syria to fight terrorism, proving that ISIS is not gone and that vague victory speeches won’t keep our people safe. If we are going to send Americans into harm’s way, the country deserves a strategy that crushes terrorists, supports reliable partners, and brings our troops home on terms we control.
The right response is not retreat or moralism — it is decisive strength. We should authorize the military to strike ISIS infrastructure wherever it hides, tighten intelligence-sharing with trustworthy local forces, and eliminate the bureaucratic hand-wringing that slows action. At the same time, leaders at home must secure our borders and stop policies that leave America vulnerable to the same enemies we fight abroad.
One of the victims was a U.S. civilian working as an interpreter, a role that too often pays with a life while receiving too little support and recognition. The wounded were reportedly taken to the al-Tanf garrison as investigations continue, and the families of the fallen deserve our prayers and our unrelenting demand for answers. The nation must honor their sacrifice by insisting on clear results, not excuses.
To the brave men and women still serving: America stands with you. To the leaders in Washington: own this moment, give our commanders what they need, and stop pretending that vague commitments are enough. And to our enemies — let this be a warning: strike at Americans and you will meet the full fury of a country that no longer accepts being led from behind.
