U.S. Forces Attacked in Syria, State Media Says

Injuries were reported in an assault near the ancient city of Palmyra, the Syrian government’s news agency said.

American and Syrian forces came under fire on Saturday during a joint patrol near the ancient city of Palmyra, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA.

At least two members of the Syrian security forces and some U.S. forces were wounded, the agency said, citing a security source.

Spokesmen from the Syrian Ministry of Interior and U.S. Department of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The New York Times could not independently verify details.

A gunman who attacked Syrian and American forces was killed, according to the news agency, though details about the person’s identity or motives remain unclear. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, also reported a similar assault on Syrian and American forces.

About 2,000 American service members were in Syria as of last December, according to the Pentagon.

Those forces are deployed across various U.S. bases, such as al-Tanf, in the country’s southeast, as well as in the northeast. For years, their main objectives have included combating the Islamic State, guarding strategic areas like oil fields and curbing Iranian influence.

American forces have also partnered with the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led militia that controls much of the nation’s northeast, to provide training and equipment, and maintain pressure on the Islamic State. The group, also known as ISIS, seized control of Palmyra in 2015, destroying invaluable archaeological sites and carrying out brutal attacks on civilians and military personnel.

The United States has in recent months been drawing down its troops from Syria, according to U.S. officials, a reflection of the evolving situation since the dictator Bashar al-Assad was ousted last December.

But the Islamic State has remained resilient in Syria and has continued to attract fighters and carry out attacks since Mr. al-Assad’s departure. There are also growing concerns about the possibility of the group’s breaking thousands of its hardened militants out of detention, which could further destabilize the region.

This shift intensifies the volatility that Syria faces, as it grapples with sectarian violence, deep humanitarian crises and the formidable challenge of rebuilding its military and security forces.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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