Syrian gunman who killed three Americans was set to be fired for "extremist views"

Syrian authorities said on Sunday that the gunman who attacked a joint US-Syrian military delegation in central Syria on Saturday was a member of the country’s Interior Ministry security forces who had been scheduled for dismissal over extremist views.

The incident has highlighted ongoing security challenges for Syria’s new authorities.

A Syrian security source told AFP that the attacker had been part of the general security forces for over ten months, serving in multiple cities before being transferred to Palmyra. In the wake of the attack, more than 11 other security personnel were detained and are being questioned as part of an expanded investigation.

Interior Ministry spokesman Anwar al-Baba said that a prior security assessment earlier this month had indicated the gunman may hold extremist or radical beliefs.

A decision to dismiss him from the forces had been scheduled for Sunday. al-Baba stressed that the attacker did not hold a leadership position within the security apparatus, which consists of more than 5,000 personnel and undergoes weekly evaluations.

The attack left three Americans dead, two soldiers and a civilian interpreter, and wounded several other US and Syrian personnel, according to both Washington and Damascus. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the gunman was killed and that three other American troops were injured.

The delegation had been in Palmyra to support ongoing counter-Daesh operations in the region.

The incident comes amid a delicate transitional phase in Syria, following the removal of the previous regime a year ago. The near-collapse of the internal security and police forces prompted the new authorities to recruit thousands of personnel rapidly to rebuild security institutions. Efforts have also been made to unify military and security structures under a central authority.

In Washington, President Donald Trump vowed to respond to the attack, describing the area as “very dangerous” and not fully controlled by Syrian authorities.

US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack called the ambush a stark reminder that terrorism remains an ongoing threat, noting that a small contingent of American forces remains in Syria to continue the fight against Daesh and prevent its resurgence.

The attack underscores the challenges facing Syria’s new security apparatus, particularly in vetting personnel and maintaining stability in areas vulnerable to extremist infiltration.