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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 a number of others injured, according to the US Department of Defense.

This offensive on US troops in the historic city of Palmyra represents the initial incident to inflict casualties following the fall of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad approximately a year ago.

"This assault took place while the service members were carrying out a high-level meeting," a Pentagon spokesperson said. "The operation was in support of on-going counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism operations in the region."

The assailant responsible for the shooting was eliminated by allied troops, as confirmed by a declaration from the Secretary of Defense.

Specifics Withheld Out of Respect

Central Command indicated that, to respect the privacy for the families and in accordance with policy, the identities of the deceased personnel will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been informed.

Initial accounts from Syrian state media and a war monitor said that shots erupted during a visit by American troops to the central town of Palmyra.

Conflicting Reports Surface

Per a state-run news agency, two members of Syria's security force and a number of US service members were injured in the exchange. Those hurt were reportedly evacuated by aircraft to a garrison near the border with Iraq and Jordan.

An official for the Syrian government claimed a shooter affiliated with ISIS began shooting at the gate of a military post. Officials are looking into whether the assailant was a formal member of the organization or simply espoused its radical beliefs.

This spokesperson also refuted a report from a Britain-based rights group that the attacker was a security member.

Ongoing American Deployment in Syria

The United States currently has a military presence stationed in Syria's east as a component of a broader coalition fighting the ISIS militant group.

Despite being declared defeated in Syria in 2019, the organization's sleeper cells still carry out deadly attacks. UN estimates suggest the group retains thousands of militants in both Syria and Iraq.

American forces have been targeted in the past. One of the most severe prior incidents occurred in 2019 in the north, when an blast claimed the lives of American soldiers and two American civilians, among others.