AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTYou have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.News AnalysisThe attacks further complicate President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s efforts to unify the country and rebuild relationships with the international community, analysts say.President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria in Damascus, the capital, in April.Credit...Daniel Berehulak/The New York TimesDec. 14, 2025Updated 11:13 a.m. ETWhen a lone gunman that President Trump said was linked to the Islamic State killed three Americans in central Syria on Saturday, it laid bare the mounting security challenges and precarious state of affairs confronting the country’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa.Since ousting Syria’s dictator, Bashar al-Assad, a year ago, Mr. al-Sharaa has had to deal with the daunting task of restoring control over a deeply fractured nation. His government has sought to rebuild a unified military force. Yet sectarian violence, involving government forces, has killed hundreds, hindering meaningful progress toward national reconciliation. And rising tensions with Kurdish militias, who hold significant sway over the country’s northeast, have complicated government efforts to integrate them into Syria’s new political and military structure.Mr. al-Sharaa has also had to delicately navigate his relationship with Mr. Trump — who has openly embraced him — amid questions about the future of U.S. forces in Syria. American troops have been there for years, to fight the Islamic State, or ISIS, counteract Iranian influence and guard strategically important areas, including oil fields.The persistent danger of terrorism has loomed large as Mr. al-Sharaa has tried to deal with these challenges.Over the past year, ISIS has exploited security gaps to target civilians and Mr. al-Sharaa’s forces. Then, on Saturday, the shooting attack left two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter involved in counterterrorism efforts dead. Three U.S. military personnel and two Syrian security forces were also wounded in the attack in Palmyra, a city in central Syria, according to American officials and Syrian state media.Government forces detained five people in raids across central Syria on Sunday targeting ISIS, three of whom were suspected of involvement in the attack, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group. The raids followed earlier reports of overnight arrests in Palmyra.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENT
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Deadly Attack in Syria on U.S. Troops Exposes Growing Challenges for Country’s Leader
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