President Donald Trump is not mincing words after a devastating attack in Syria claimed American lives.
On Saturday, December 13, 2025, a tragic ambush by a lone ISIS gunman left two U.S. Army soldiers and an American interpreter dead, while three other soldiers were wounded, during a critical counter-terrorism mission in a volatile Syrian region, Fox News reported.
This gut-wrenching incident unfolded as part of a key leader engagement, a stark reminder that the fight against ISIS remains a dangerous endeavor for our brave troops.
The attack occurred in an area of Syria that’s far from secure, a place where control is shaky at best and threats lurk around every corner.
Thankfully, the gunman responsible was neutralized by partner forces, but not before inflicting heartbreaking casualties on our side.
The wounded soldiers, reported to be in stable condition, were swiftly airlifted by helicopter to the al-Tanf garrison near the borders of Iraq and Jordan, according to Syrian state media reports cited by The Associated Press.
President Trump, speaking out on his way to the Army-Navy football game in Baltimore on the same day, didn’t hold back on his reaction to this outrage.
“There will be very serious retaliation,” Trump declared in a post on Truth Social, signaling that any further attacks on U.S. forces will be met with a heavy hand.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just tough talk—it’s a promise to protect our troops from the lingering menace of ISIS, a group that’s been a thorn in America’s side for far too long.
Trump also noted the frustration of Syrian leadership, pointing out in another Truth Social post, “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.”
He added, “The President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack.”
While some might question cozying up to foreign leaders, it’s hard to argue against shared anger when American blood is spilled on foreign soil.
Let’s not forget the broader context: as of June 2025, about 1,500 U.S. troops were still stationed in Syria, though Pentagon plans aim to reduce that to just a few hundred by year’s end.
Since intervening in 2014 to stop ISIS from carving out a so-called caliphate, the U.S. has operated eight bases in the region, though three have since been shuttered or handed over to the Syrian Democratic Forces.
This shrinking footprint raises questions—can we truly keep ISIS in check with fewer boots on the ground, or are we inviting more tragedies like this one by scaling back?
