Trump Vows ‘Big Damage’ in Syria After Attack on U.S. Forces

On Sunday, President Donald Trump vowed “big damage” to those responsible for an attack that killed two U.S. service members and one American civilian in Syria during a White House Christmas reception.

Speaking at the event—which also included condolences for victims of a shooting at Brown University and an antisemitic attack in Australia—Trump stated: “In Syria there will be a lot of damage done to the people that did it.”

Trump further emphasized that authorities had identified the individual responsible but warned of significant consequences, describing the incident as carried out by ISIS rather than the Syrian government. “The Syrian government fought by our side. The new president fought by our side,” he added, noting U.S. forces remain in harm’s way despite Washington working with partners to counter Islamic State resurgence.

Syria’s Interior Ministry reported the attacker targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces near Palmyra on Saturday before being shot dead. Five suspects with alleged ties to the incident were arrested in a coordinated security operation, according to the ministry, which described the attacker as a Syrian security force member suspected of ISIS sympathies. U.S. Central Command confirmed three U.S. soldiers were wounded in the attack.

Trump also referenced the Brown University shooting in Rhode Island, where nine people were injured and two killed, noting authorities detained a “person of interest.” In Australia, at least 11 people died in an antisemitic terrorist attack on a Hanukkah celebration at a Sydney beach, which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned as such.

Trump remarked: “We’re here to celebrate Christmas and to celebrate… I think today we can say very loudly we celebrate Hanukkah because that was such a horrible attack.”