The killing of three Americans during what was said to be a counterterrorism operation in central Syria served as a reminder that U.S. troops are still operating in the country.

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.

Sharaa’s efforts to unify the country and rebuild relationships with the international community, analysts say.

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in an Islamic State attack on Saturday, Dec. 13 in Palmyra, Syria, where they were supporting counterterrorism operations, the Pentagon said.

An ISIS gunman attacked an American delegation in Palmyra, Syria, killing the soldiers and an American interpreter and leaving more injured.

The Department of War told Fox News Digital it is aware of reports that American troops have come under fire Saturday in the central Syrian town of Palmyra.

President Trump said in a Truth Social post that it was an "ISIS attack against the U.S." and Syria and that there will be "very serious retaliation."

Syria’s state news agency said two Syrian military personnel were also injured in the attack. Tom Barrack, U.S. ambassador to Turkey and the Trump Administration’s special envoy to Syria, also condemned the attack and paid tribute to the soldiers.

Since the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad last December, the Trump administration has embraced the new Syrian leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has ties to Al Qaida. The Islamic State, which the U.S. declared in 2019 was mostly defeated, has remained a threat in Syria and has continued to conduct attacks since Assad’s departure.