Trump vows retaliation after three Americans killed in Syria attack

United States President Donald Trump has pledged to pursue “serious retaliation” against ISIL (ISIS) after an ambush in central Syria killed two American soldiers and one civilian interpreter.

An investigation is under way to determine whether the attacker was linked to ISIL, but Trump on Saturday blamed the armed group that had seized territories across Syria and Iraq in 2014.

The attack on US forces was the first to inflict casualties since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a year ago.

Three US military members were injured in the attack, as well as at least two Syrian soldiers, according to government and media reports.

Trump said in a social media post he had received confirmation that the injured US soldiers were “doing well”.

He, however, warned that there would be serious consequences for what he described as an ISIL attack.

“This was an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them,” Trump wrote. “The President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack. There will be very serious retaliation.”

His remarks echoed those of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who likewise promised to take severe action against anyone who attacked US service members.

“Let it be known, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you,” Hegseth wrote on social media.