ISIS-claimed bombing reportedly kills at least 16 in Syria, including 2 American troops
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
At least 16 people have reportedly been killed by a suicide bomber in Syria, and American service members are among them, Reuters reports via the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the Wednesday attack, writing on its website that one of its fighters "detonated an explosive vest" next to a foreign patrol, BBC says. The bomber apparently "targeted U.S.-led coalition forces in the Kurdish-held" town, BBC writes, and a Kurdish news agency says "two American troops and one Kurdish fighter" were killed. The U.S.-led coalition against ISIS has since confirmed an unknown number of "U.S. service members were killed during an explosion while conducting a routine patrol in Syria."
The attack comes not long after President Trump announced a swift withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria, declaring that ISIS is "defeated." Trump's move reportedly came "hastily" after a phone call from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and faced opposition from nearly all his advisers. America had been working with Kurdish allies to defend Syria against ISIS, and the Kurds denied Trump's claim of ISIS' defeat. Turkey and the Kurds have long been at odds, jeopardizing their safety if American troops leave the region. Tuesday's attack happened just 20 miles from the Syrian border with Turkey.
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The White House and U.S. Central Commend have said they are aware of the reported attack, and the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS said it "will share additional details at a later time."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
