Sen. Jim Banks pledged congressional support for President Trump after a deadly attack in Syria that U.S. officials described as an "ambush by a lone ISIS gunman." Two U.S. service members and one civilian were killed and three U.S. personnel were wounded; the attacker was engaged and killed. Iowa officials said the American casualties were members of the Iowa National Guard, and SANA reported the patrol was near Palmyra where Syrian forces were also injured. Banks vowed legislative backing for a response as investigations continue.
Sen. Jim Banks Says Congress Will Back Trump After Deadly ISIS Ambush In Syria
Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) pledged that Congress will support President Trump’s response after an attack in Syria that U.S. officials say killed two American service members and one civilian and wounded three other U.S. personnel.
U.S. Central Command confirmed on the social platform X that the incident was an "ambush by a lone ISIS gunman," and said the attacker was subsequently engaged and killed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X that partner forces were involved in neutralizing the gunman.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a Saturday release that the two service members killed and the three wounded were members of the Iowa National Guard. According to SANA, the government-backed Syrian news agency, the U.S. and partner forces were conducting a joint field patrol near the city of Palmyra when the assault occurred; SANA also reported three Syrian security personnel were injured.
"Donald Trump rooted out and took out the ISIS caliphate in his first term without starting another forever war. He’s going to do that again and I’m going to be there to back him up," Banks, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Jacqui Heinrich on "Fox News Sunday."
Banks added, "American strength will prevail. We will root out those responsible, we will hold them accountable and the Congress will be there to back up the president to do that." The senator noted the U.S. maintains roughly 1,000 troops in Syria.
The White House has previously acknowledged a recent meeting between President Trump and a Syrian leader identified in media reports as Ahmed al-Sharaa. Some outlets reported that Mr. Trump removed a global terrorist designation tied to that figure ahead of their meeting; those specific background claims have been reported but are not independently verified in all outlets. A Pentagon official told The Hill that the attack occurred in an area "where [that leader] does not have control."
U.S. and allied officials say investigations into the ambush are ongoing. Lawmakers, including Banks, signaled they will back measures to support targeted military responses and to hold those responsible to account.
