Report: Four US Soldiers Killed, Three Wounded in ISIS-Claimed Attack in Syria

Four U.S. service members were killed and three were wounded in a suicide bomb attack in Manbij, Syria Wednesday, a U.S. official reportedly told Reuters. The deadly attack was claimed by ISIS, however the claim is not yet confirmed.

“A witness in the city said the attack had targeted a restaurant where U.S. personnel were meeting members of the local militia that Washington backs there.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said 16 people had been killed in all, including two Americans. A militia source in north Syria also said two U.S. troops had been killed.”

Operation Inherent Resolve posted about the attack, confirming U.S. fatalities, “U.S. service members were killed during an explosion while conducting a routine patrol in Syria today. We are still gathering information and will share additional details at a later time.”

The attack comes about a month after President Trump announced he was ordering U.S. troops out of Syria, having completed their main goal of abolishing the ISIS caliphate, though pockets of ISIS fighters remain in control of small amounts of territory in Syria. Trump’s decision has been controversial, prompting the resignation/firing of Secretary of Defense James Mattis in December and causing liberal critics of “endless wars” to demand the U.S. stay in Syria, even though Trump has committed to keeping U.S. troops in neighboring Iraq in part to intervene in Syria when necessary.

Photos and videos of the attack and its aftermath were posted online. (Warning: graphic.)

https://twitter.com/metesohtaoglu/status/1085508365453836289

Manbij is in northern Syria, near the border with Turkey. ISIS controlled the city for several years during the Syrian civil war over the reign of Bashar al-Assad, but it was taken by anti-Assad forces in 2016 and has become self-governing.

Wikipedia noted this the involvement of US forces there: “Manbij today also is a hub for Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve training of new SDF recruits in the fight against ISIL and other Islamist militias in Syria.[37] On 26 February, the United States announced its support for the security of the Manbij Military Council. The United States also reportedly sent special forces and several military convoys to Manbij after the announcement.”

From a few weeks ago, woman Arab fighters on liberating Manbij from ISIS, “In 2 wks ago interviewed young Arab women who joined Manbij Military Council. Told me about watching women liberate their city from ISIS in 2016. & about convincing families to allow them to be part of protecting their city. A new generation. Waiting to see what comes.”

Featured Image via CNN/ANHA/Twitter.

Photo of author
Kristinn Taylor has contributed to The Gateway Pundit for over ten years. Mr. Taylor previously wrote for Breitbart, worked for Judicial Watch and was co-leader of the D.C. Chapter of FreeRepublic.com. He studied journalism in high school, visited the Newseum and once met David Brinkley.

You can email Kristinn Taylor here, and read more of Kristinn Taylor's articles here.

 

Thanks for sharing!