The Islamic State terrorist group released a statement Thursday praising the killing of three Americans in Syria last week, though the organization did not explicitly claim responsibility for the attack.
The message appeared on a Telegram channel believed to be linked to ISIS leadership and celebrated what it described as a “blow” against the United States and its allies in Syria. According to reports, the statement used religious language to frame the incident as a significant moment intended to inspire supporters, but it did not directly state that ISIS carried out the attack.
The message is the first public comment from the terror network since the incident in Palmyra, Syria, that preceded another violent episode tied to militants. The Palmyra attack involved the deaths of two U.S. servicemen and one civilian working alongside American forces during operations in the region.
Last Saturday’s attack occurred near Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that ISIS once controlled almost entirely during its so‑called caliphate. The group’s territorial “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria collapsed in 2017 under pressure from U.S.‑backed forces. In 2019, President Donald Trump ordered an operation that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al‑Baghdadi, ending his leadership of the group’s central organization.
Despite the loss of its territory and leadership, ISIS’s radical ideology continues to inspire militants worldwide. The recent violence in Syria has heightened concern about a potential resurgence of ISIS‑linked fighters in the region.
U.S. authorities identified the two American servicemen killed as Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres‑Tovar, both members of the Iowa National Guard. A civilian interpreter also died in the attack, and three other U.S. troops were wounded but are reportedly recovering.
The assault happened during a mission described by U.S. officials as a key leader engagement supporting ongoing counter‑ISIS and counterterrorism efforts. The United States is aligned with the Syrian regime of President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, a former rebel commander whose forces have publicly opposed ISIS and other extremist groups.
Syrian government officials stated that the attacker was a member of the Syrian armed forces, though not a senior figure, and suggested he may have held extremist sympathies. Damascus has denied that the area where the attack occurred was fully under government control, complicating security responsibilities in the region. Syrian authorities later reported the arrest of five suspects connected to the incident.
The Islamic State’s statement, while stopping short of admitting involvement, underscores the enduring threat posed by jihadist groups in Syria and the ongoing dangers faced by U.S. personnel and allies operating there.
