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A deadly attack in the heart of Syria on Saturday morning resulted in the loss of two US army soldiers and one American civilian interpreter, with a number of others wounded, according to the US Department of Defense.

This offensive on US troops in the ancient city of Palmyra marks the first event to cause fatalities since the ouster of ex-leader Bashar al-Assad roughly a year prior.

"This assault took place while the service members were conducting a key leader engagement," an official stated. "Their mission was in aid of on-going counter-ISIS / anti-terror missions in the area."

The assailant responsible for the gunfire was eliminated by partner forces, according to a declaration from the US defense secretary.

Details Kept Private For Privacy

Central Command noted that, as a matter of respect for the families and in accordance with policy, the names of the fallen service members will be withheld until a full day after their next of kin have been notified.

Initial accounts from Syrian state media and a conflict observatory said that gunfire rang out during a tour by American troops to the central town of Tadmur.

Varying Reports Surface

According to a state-run news agency, two members of local security forces and a number of US personnel were injured in the exchange. The injured were reportedly evacuated by aircraft to a garrison near the border with neighboring countries.

An official for the Syrian government claimed a gunman linked to Islamic State opened fire at the entrance of a military post. Officials are investigating whether the assailant was a formal member of the group or simply adhered to its radical beliefs.

This spokesperson further denied a report from a UK-based rights group that the attacker was a security member.

Ongoing American Deployment in the Region

The US maintains hundreds of troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a multinational alliance combating the ISIS militant group.

Even after being declared defeated in Syria in recent years, the group's sleeper cells still execute deadly attacks. UN estimates suggest the group still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.

US troops have been attacked in the past. Among the deadliest previous attacks took place in that year in the north, when an blast killed two US service members and US civilians, among others.