Syrian authorities have detained five individuals believed to be connected to the attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra, as announced by the Interior Ministry. The incident resulted in the death of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter during an assault on a convoy, with the attacker being killed in return fire. The Syrian Interior Ministry identified the assailant as a member of the Syrian security forces suspected of supporting ISIS.
Collaboration between Syria and the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS has been ongoing, with a recent agreement solidified during President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House. The Syrian Interior Ministry disclosed that a joint operation in Palmyra, involving “international coalition forces,” led to the apprehension of five suspects who were promptly taken in for questioning.
Following the attack, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in discussions with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, where Shibani expressed condolences and reaffirmed the Syrian government’s dedication to combatting the common threat posed by ISIS. The Syrian Interior Ministry revealed that the assailant had been under scrutiny for extremist inclinations in the days leading up to the attack, with a decision regarding his status pending.
In recent months, the U.S.-led coalition has conducted airstrikes and ground operations in Syria to target ISIS operatives, often in collaboration with Syrian security forces. Syria’s nationwide crackdown last month resulted in the arrest of over 70 individuals accused of ties to ISIS.
The United States maintains a military presence in northeastern Syria as part of ongoing efforts to counter ISIS, which controlled significant territories in Syria and Iraq from 2014 to 2019. Syria’s current government comprises former rebel factions that overthrew Bashar al-Assad last year after a protracted civil conflict, including ex-members of Syria’s previous al-Qaeda branch who turned against ISIS.
