Former U.S. Ambassador Stands Firmly Behind Trump
Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker warned Saturday that the deadly ISIS attack on American personnel in Syria is a serious reminder that terrorism in the Middle East remains an active and dangerous threat.
Speaking on Newsmax’s “The Count,” Volker said the attack highlights why U.S. military readiness and strong leadership remain critical in unstable regions — and why President Donald Trump’s pledge to retaliate is both necessary and justified.
ISIS Ambush Raises Security Concerns
Volker described the attack as a deliberate ambush targeting U.S. forces conducting operations in a volatile part of Syria.
According to Volker, American troops were engaged in what he called a high-risk mission when they were attacked by an ISIS gunman who appeared to have advance knowledge of a supposedly secure meeting involving U.S. military leaders and Syrian government officials.
That intelligence breach, Volker said, raises serious national security questions.
How the Attack Unfolded
“What happened here was a lone ISIS gunman going directly to a location where U.S. military leadership was meeting with Syrian security officials in Palmyra,” Volker explained.
“They must have known this meeting was taking place.”
The Americans who were killed were reportedly providing perimeter security for the meeting and were positioned outside when the attacker opened fire from an elevated location.
“They were guarding the meeting when the sniper stood up in a window and started shooting,” Volker said.
Immediate Response, Heavy Losses
Syrian forces responded quickly and were able to track down and kill the attacker, eliminating the immediate threat.
However, the damage had already been done.
Three Americans were killed, including two U.S. service members and one American civilian interpreter. Three additional U.S. troops were wounded, along with several Syrian soldiers.
Terrorism Remains a Global Threat
Volker warned that the attack underscores a harsh reality many Americans already understand — extremist groups like ISIS continue to target the United States and its allies.
“There has been discussion in Washington about shifting attention away from the Middle East,” Volker said. “But terrorism hasn’t gone away. These threats are still there, and they can still strike.”
He added that allowing such attacks to go unanswered would only encourage further violence.
Trump Promises Retaliation
Volker strongly supported President Trump’s response, saying decisive action is necessary to protect American lives and deter future attacks.
“President Trump is absolutely right to promise retaliation,” Volker said. “This cannot stand.”
President Trump echoed those comments in public remarks and on Truth Social following the attack, which U.S. officials have attributed to ISIS.
Trump Honors Fallen Americans
“There will be very serious retaliation,” Trump said Saturday.
“We grieve the loss of three American heroes in Syria — two service members and one civilian interpreter,” the president said. “Our thoughts and prayers are also with the three wounded soldiers, who have been confirmed to be in stable condition.”
Trump emphasized that the attack occurred in a dangerous region of Syria that is not fully under government control.
He also noted that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the attack.
“There will be very serious retaliation,” Trump concluded. “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
