Three Americans killed in Syria exposes security weakness

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

The attack in Palmyra last Saturday killed three Americans—two soldiers and one civilian interpreter—and wounded an additional three U.S. personnel. The Syrian government condemned the operation as a “terrorist attack.”

Today, U.S. personnel remain in northeastern Syria and at the al-Tanf base near the Jordanian border, focusing on ISIS containment and support for local partners.

Palmyra—listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980—fell to ISIS in 2015 before government and coalition forces retook it in 2019. Despite losing territorial control, ISIS retains a desert presence and launches intermittent strikes.

U.S.–Syria Relations: Condemnations, Condolences, and Political Sensitivities

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed deep regret over the Palmyra attack, although Trump stressed that it occurred outside areas controlled by Syria’s new transitional government:

“He had nothing to do with it. He feels very sorry about it. He’s a strong man, and this was unrelated to the Syrian government.”

Trump, who hosted al-Sharaa at the White House in November, blamed ISIS directly and vowed retaliation. Al-Sharaa sent a formal condolence cable to Trump affirming that Syria stands in solidarity with the victims’ families and remains committed to security and stability.

Syria Arrests Suspects Linked to the Attack

The Syrian Interior Ministry reported that the gunman was a member of transitional security forces suspected of ideological extremism. Five additional suspects with possible links were arrested after a joint operation conducted alongside Syrian intelligence and the U.S.-led coalition.

The Ministry said the attacker had been evaluated days earlier for radical views and was awaiting internal disciplinary measures.

Expanding Counter-Insurgency Nationwide

Syria also declared a nationwide crackdown, arresting more than 70 alleged ISIS-linked individuals and coordinating air and ground operations with the coalition.

Another Interior Ministry statement announced the dismantling of a cell responsible for attacks in Idlib and Aleppo, including assaults on highway patrols and defense forces. Eight suspects were arrested; others were “neutralized.” Authorities seized suicide belts, silencers, M-DAL missiles, and M4 rifles.

Officials vowed to continue securing highways and public facilities and to transfer all detainees to judicial authorities.

American Media Spotlight: NYT and Forbes Warn of Deeper Instability

U.S. media has highlighted broader political consequences.

The New York Times argued that the Palmyra attack exposes the fragility of President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s transitional government, complicating its relations with the international coalition:

The paper identified an urgent need to address the status of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—Washington’s main partner against ISIS, responsible for camps and prisons holding ISIS fighters.

The NYT said sectarian abuses by armed actors aligned with the transitional government during the past year have obstructed reconciliation and undermined stability initiatives.

Political analyst Bassam Barabandi concluded:

“This is a critical moment for President al-Sharaa. He has only one option—restore stability, rebuild the state, and eliminate any terrorist presence.”

Forbes magazine warned against rushing to integrate SDF, the U.S.’s “long-standing and solid ally against ISIS,” into new military structures without safeguards—especially after Americans were killed while operating alongside transitional internal-security forces.

ISIS Presence Near Manbij and Deir ez-Zor

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported temporary ISIS checkpoints in Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor countryside. Armed militants wearing ISIS insignia reportedly inspected identity cards—specifically seeking military or security personnel—along desert highways.

Checkpoints were documented near al-Arimah (west of Manbij) and in al-Mayadin, with another checkpoint observed on the “second desert highway” after midnight.

Regional Press: Frozen Agreements and SDF Anxiety

Arabic press outlets highlighted the stalled implementation of the March 10 agreement between SDF and the transitional government.

Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar newspaper reported that SDF has intensified contact with tribal and local leaders to strengthen its negotiating leverage amid ongoing frontline tension.

The paper suggested that the Palmyra attack supports SDF warnings that ISIS infiltrators may already exist inside transitional forces, undermining trust in the government as a reliable counter-terrorism partner.

Despite public criticism by a U.S. envoy, SDF sources told Al-Akhbar that parts of the international coalition still view them as the premier counter-ISIS instrument and continue to provide military support.

A Shifting Security Landscape

Ten years after ISIS first swept across Syria and Iraq, the Palmyra attack Is a stark reminder that ISIS remains active in the desert and sleeper cells exploit transitional uncertainty.

U.S. and Syrian forces lack unified command structures, and the Iraq–Syria border is once again a strategic flashpoint, and political fragmentation threatens counter-terrorism gains.

Palmyra has become a warning signal: the war against ISIS is not over

A recent attack by ISIS in the Syrian city of Palmyra has triggered serious security concerns in neighboring Iraq, reviving fears that the group’s sleeper cells could exploit instability along the shared border. Iraqi lawmakers and security analysts warn that similar attacks could spill into Iraqi territory—especially within remote desert regions—if surveillance weakens or coordination falters.

Iraq, meanwhile, has expanded a fortified security barrier along the Syrian frontier by an additional 83 kilometers, reflecting Baghdad’s persistent concerns about security fallout from the collapse of the Assad regime. Senior Iraqi security officials describe today’s border-control efforts as unprecedented since 2003.

Iraq Reinforces Its Western Frontier

Since the fall of the Assad government, Iraq has pursued an aggressive strategy to seal its border, deploying significant combat formations and tightening counter-infiltration measures.

Iraqi MP Alawi Nima of the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee described growing anxiety after renewed ISIS activity near the Syrian desert. “The Palmyra attack proves ISIS still retains the capacity to launch complex operations. Its sleeper cells remain an immediate threat to regional security.”

Nima emphasized that developments inside Syria cannot be isolated from Iraq’s internal security, given the vast desert corridor and fluid militant movements. He called for expanded intelligence and operational coordination between Baghdad, Damascus, regional allies, and international partners, arguing that terrorists seek to exploit “any security vulnerability” to re-enter Iraq.

Military Analysts Warn of a Strategic ISIS Rebuild

Retired Iraqi Major General Jawad al-Dahlaki described the Palmyra assault as a “dangerous indicator” suggesting ISIS is regaining the ability to reorganize cells and execute strategic, multi-layered attacks:

“This is not an Isolated incident. It reflects active ISIS maneuvering across the Syrian desert and borderlands.”

Al-Dahlaki urged more reconnaissance, drone surveillance, modern sensors, and desert-focused monitoring. He warned that ISIS traditionally weaponizes remote terrain to conduct small raids or display force—moves that could foreshadow attempts to re-establish logistical and operational networks.

He said failure to sustain intelligence cooperation may allow ISIS to revert to its traditional insurgency model.

Iraq Claims Operational Gains Against ISIS

In the past three months, ISIS activity in Iraq has sharply declined. Targeted airstrikes have disrupted supply corridors in provinces such as Nineveh, Diyala, Kirkuk, Salah al-Din, and Anbar, as well as rugged zones between Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah—such as Zghaitoun Valley, Wadi al-Shay, Sheikh Younis Mountain, and Wadi Houran.

Iraqi authorities say remaining militants are “under surveillance.” Airpower is continuously hitting smuggling routes and hideouts.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has ordered a full tactical review, demanding non-traditional counter-terrorism methods to limit militant mobility.

For President al-Sharaa, governing amid sectarian tensions, fragile alliances, and resurgent militancy may determine whether Syria moves toward stability—or slips back into insurgency.

Israel remains the chief beneficiary of instability in Syria. The connection between Israeli intelligence units and ISIS members is not clearly known, but until there is a peace treaty between Syria and Israel, including security arrangements, Israel will continue to benefit from chaos and insecurity in Syria.

Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist.