ISIS in Syria

An ambush near historic Palmyra, Syria, during a key‑leader engagement supporting counter‑ISIS operations killed two U.S. soldiers — later identified as Iowa National Guard Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres‑Tovar, 25 — and a U.S. civilian interpreter, and wounded three other U.S. service members; U.S. officials and CENTCOM say the gunman, described in preliminary assessments as an ISIS infiltrator who had been serving within Syrian security forces, was engaged and killed by partner forces. President Trump vowed “very serious retaliation” and, joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, pledged the U.S. would respond with overwhelming force; the attack is under investigation and no group has formally claimed responsibility.