Washington, December 15, 2025 – The Europe Today: Syrian and United States officials have said that a recent Daesh attack targeting American forces was intended to undermine improving diplomatic relations between Damascus and Washington, according to media reports.
The assessment was made during a telephone conversation on Sunday between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, following an ambush near Palmyra that resulted in the deaths of three Americans.
According to a statement issued by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a “cowardly act” aimed at disrupting emerging cooperation between the two countries. Foreign Minister Shaibani said the incident represents a renewed challenge in the fight against terrorism and underlined the importance of close coordination with international partners, particularly the United States.
Shaibani also conveyed condolences from Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to US President Donald Trump and expressed appreciation for Washington’s support in counterterrorism efforts.
For his part, Secretary Rubio reaffirmed continued US support for the Syrian government, including cooperation on counterterrorism, initiatives to enhance regional stability, and measures aimed at creating conditions conducive to economic recovery.
The US State Department confirmed the call, noting that Shaibani reiterated Damascus’s commitment to working with partners to “degrade and destroy the shared threat of Daesh.” A department spokesperson said the United States would hold all those responsible for harming or threatening Americans to account, echoing President Trump’s earlier pledge to respond decisively.
The diplomatic exchange followed a Saturday ambush by a Daesh gunman in the Palmyra desert, which killed two US service members and one American civilian, and wounded three others. In response, Syrian authorities launched a security operation targeting Daesh cells in the countryside of Homs province.
The cooperation comes within the framework of the international anti-Daesh coalition, which Syria formally joined on November 12, as the country’s new administration seeks to restore national security and stability amid ongoing security challenges.
