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A fatal attack in central Syria on Saturday led to the deaths of a pair of American troops and one American civilian interpreter, with several other people wounded, according to the Pentagon.

The assault on American forces in the historic town of Palmyra represents the first incident to cause fatalities since the fall of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad approximately a year prior.

"This assault took place while the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement," an official said. "The operation was in support of ongoing anti-ISIS / anti-terror operations in the region."

The attacker responsible for the shooting was killed by partner forces, as confirmed by a statement from the Secretary of Defense.

Specifics Kept Private Out of Respect

Central Command indicated that, to respect the privacy for the loved ones and in accordance with standard procedure, the identities of the fallen service members will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified.

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

Varying Accounts Surface

According to a government news agency, a pair of Syria's security force and a number of US service members were wounded in the incident. Those hurt were reportedly evacuated by helicopters to a military base near the frontier with Iraq and Jordan.

An official for Syria's interior ministry said a gunman linked to ISIS began shooting at the gate of a military post. Authorities are looking into whether the assailant was a formal member of the organization or merely espoused its radical beliefs.

This spokesperson further refuted a report from a Britain-based monitoring group that the attacker was a member of the security forces.

Continued American Deployment in the Region

The US maintains a military presence deployed in Syria's east as part of a broader coalition combating the ISIS militant group.

Despite being declared defeated in the country in 2019, the group's sleeper cells continue to execute lethal strikes. United Nations estimates suggest the faction retains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both Syria and Iraq.

American forces have previously been targeted in the past. One of the most severe previous attacks took place in 2019 in northern Syria, when an blast killed American soldiers and two American civilians, among additional casualties.