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A deadly attack in central Syria on Saturday led to the loss of a pair of American troops and a US civilian translator, with a number of others wounded, according to the US Department of Defense.

This offensive on American forces in the historic town of Palmyra represents the first event to cause fatalities following the ouster of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad approximately a year ago.

"The attack took place while the service members were carrying out a high-level meeting," an official stated. "Their mission was in aid of on-going anti-ISIS / counter-terrorism missions in the area."

The assailant behind the gunfire was eliminated by partner forces, as confirmed by a declaration from the Secretary of Defense.

Details Kept Private For Privacy

Central Command noted that, as a matter of respect for the families and in accordance with policy, the names of the fallen service members will be withheld until a full day after their families have been informed.

Initial accounts from Syrian state media and a war monitor stated that shots rang out during a visit by US soldiers to the area of Tadmur.

Varying Reports Emerge

According to a government news agency, a pair of local security forces and several US service members were wounded in the exchange. Those hurt were allegedly transported by helicopters to a military base near the frontier with Iraq and Jordan.

An official for Syria's interior ministry said a shooter affiliated with Islamic State opened fire at the gate of a army position. Authorities are looking into whether the individual was a card-carrying member of the group or simply espoused its radical beliefs.

This spokesperson also denied a claim from a Britain-based rights group that the gunman was a security member.

Continued American Deployment in Syria

The United States currently has hundreds of troops stationed in Syria's east as a component of a multinational alliance combating the ISIS militant group.

Despite being declared defeated in the country in 2019, the organization's dormant networks continue to execute lethal strikes. UN assessments indicate the faction still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.

American forces have previously been targeted in the past. Among the deadliest prior incidents occurred in 2019 in northern Syria, when an blast claimed the lives of American soldiers and two American civilians, among others.