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President Donald Trump on Sunday vowed retaliation in Syria after two U.S. service members and one American civilian were killed in an attack, saying those responsible would face consequences.
Speaking at a White House Christmas reception, the president began with condolences for victims of a violent weekend that included the Syria attack, a shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island and a deadly antisemitic attack in Australia.
“In Syria there will be a lot of damage done to the people that did it,” President Trump said, adding that authorities “got the person” responsible but that “there’ll be big damage done.”
The president said the Syria attack killed “three great patriots” and emphasized that it was carried out by the Islamic State group, not the Syrian government.
“The Syrian government fought by our side. The new president fought by our side,” President Trump said, describing the incident as a reminder that U.S. forces remain at risk as Washington works with partners to prevent an Islamic State resurgence.
Syria’s Interior Ministry said the attacker targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces near Palmyra on Saturday before being shot dead. The ministry said five suspects with alleged links to the incident were arrested in a coordinated security operation and described the attacker as a Syrian security force member suspected of sympathizing with the Islamic State.
U.S. Central Command said three U.S. soldiers were also wounded in the attack.
President Trump also referenced violence in the United States, citing “Brown University, nine injured, and two killed,” and said investigators had apprehended a “person of interest.” Authorities in Rhode Island confirmed that a person of interest was detained following the shooting.
Internationally, President Trump addressed an attack in Australia in which at least 11 people were killed on Sunday during a Hanukkah celebration at a popular Sydney beach. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as an act of antisemitic terrorism.
“We’re here to celebrate Christmas and to celebrate, and I think today we can say very loudly we celebrate Hanukkah because that was such a horrible attack,” President Trump said.
