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A fatal attack in the heart of Syria on Saturday morning led to the loss of a pair of American troops and a US civilian translator, with several other people injured, according to the Pentagon.

This offensive on US troops in the historic town of Palmyra represents the first incident to cause fatalities following the fall of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad roughly a year ago.

"This assault took place while the service members were conducting a high-level meeting," a Pentagon spokesperson said. "Their mission was in aid of ongoing anti-ISIS / counter-terrorism missions in the area."

The assailant responsible for the shooting was killed by allied troops, according to a statement from the US defense secretary.

Specifics Withheld Out of Respect

Central Command indicated that, as a matter of respect for the loved ones and in accordance with policy, the identities of the deceased personnel will be withheld until 24 hours after their families have been informed.

Initial accounts from Syrian state media and a war monitor stated that shots erupted during a tour by American troops to the area of Palmyra.

Varying Reports Emerge

According to a state-run media outlet, two members of Syria's security force and several US service members were wounded in the exchange. Those hurt were allegedly transported by aircraft to a garrison near the frontier with neighboring countries.

A spokesperson for the Syrian government said a shooter linked to ISIS began shooting at the entrance of a military post. Authorities are looking into whether the individual was a card-carrying member of the group or merely espoused its radical beliefs.

This spokesperson further refuted a claim from a UK-based rights group that the gunman was a member of the security forces.

Ongoing US Presence in Syria

The US maintains a military presence deployed in Syria's east as part of a broader coalition fighting the Islamic State.

Despite being declared defeated in Syria in 2019, the organization's dormant networks continue to carry out deadly attacks. United Nations estimates suggest the group retains thousands of fighters in both Syria and Iraq.

US troops have previously been targeted in the before. Among the most severe prior incidents took place in that year in the north, when an blast killed two US service members and two American civilians, among additional casualties.