WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (KUNA) -- US President Donald Trump said on 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.
"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." 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.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the attacker was killed by partner forces. (Pickup previous) amm.mb