Troops in Trouble: A Look at Recent Events in Syria

In a sudden turn of events, two U. S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter lost their lives in Syria. This happened during a counterterrorism mission in Palmyra. The U. S. believes the Islamic State group might be behind this attack. A lone gunman opened fire, but was killed shortly after. Three other American soldiers and two Syrian security personnel were hurt. They were taken to a nearby U. S. base for medical help. No one has taken responsibility for this attack yet. But, the U. S. Defense Secretary made it clear that they will not tolerate such actions. He warned that the U. S. will hunt down anyone who targets Americans. There are about 2, 000 U. S. troops in Syria. Their main goals are to fight the Islamic State, protect important areas, and limit Iranian influence. They also work with local forces to keep pressure on the Islamic State. Recently, the U. S. has been reducing its troop numbers in Syria. This is because the situation has changed since the fall of the Syrian dictator last year. With his departure, the threat from Iranian-backed militias and Russian troops has decreased. However, the Islamic State is still a major concern. They continue to attract fighters and carry out attacks. There are also worries about the group freeing thousands of their fighters from detention, which could make things even worse.