On Dec. 13, two U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian were killed, and three service members were injured, as a result of an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman in Syria. The gunman was engaged and killed.

As a matter of respect for the families and in accordance with Department of War policy, the identities of the service members will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified.

The savage who perpetrated this attack was killed by partner forces.

Let it be known, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you.

Today in Palmyra, Syria, two United States Army soldiers and one civilian U.S. interpreter were killed, and three were wounded.

The attack occurred as the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement. Their mission was in support of on-going counter-ISIS / counter-terrorism operations in the region.

I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist ambush targeting a joint U.S.–Syrian government patrol in central Syria.

We mourn the loss of three brave U.S. service members and civilian personnel and wish a speedy recovery to the Syrian troops wounded in the attack.

We remain committed to defeating terrorism with our Syrian partners.

The Internal Security Command had issued prior warnings to partner forces in the Badia (Desert) region about the possibility of a breach or expected ISIS attacks.

The International Coalition forces did not take the Syrian warnings regarding a potential ISIS attack into consideration.

The attacker had no leadership role within Internal Security and was not part of the command’s entourage.

An individual affiliated with ISIS opened fire at the entrance of one of the headquarters in the Palmyra desert.

A joint tour was underway between the International Coalition command in Syria and the Internal Security leadership in the Badia at the time of the shooting.

The assailant was neutralized after an exchange of fire with Syrian security forces and International Coalition troops.