Two American soldiers. One civilian interpreter. All three dead on Syrian soil.

ISIS pulled the trigger. And now they’re about to learn — again — what happens when you kill Americans under this president.

Trump’s response on Truth Social was direct: “There will be very serious retaliation.”

When Trump says “very serious,” he means it. Ask Qasem Soleimani.

Oh wait. You can’t.

The Attack Happened in an Area Assad’s Replacement Doesn’t Control

Here’s the situation.

U.S. and Syrian forces were conducting a joint patrol near Palmyra when they came under attack. The American soldiers were engaged in what the Pentagon calls a “key leader engagement” — part of ongoing counter-ISIS operations in the region.

The area where this happened isn’t fully under the control of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. It’s contested territory. Dangerous. The kind of place where ISIS remnants still operate and look for opportunities to kill Americans.

They found one on Saturday. Three of our people are dead. Three more are wounded.

The terrorist who pulled this off? Dead. Killed by partner forces on site. But that’s just the beginning.

Secretary Hegseth’s Warning Was Crystal Clear

Pete Hegseth didn’t mince words in his statement:

“Let it be known, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the U.S. will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you.”

That’s not diplomatic boilerplate. That’s a promise.

The Biden administration would have issued a statement expressing “concern” and called for “de-escalation.” They would have formed a committee. Held meetings. Written reports.

This administration? They’re already planning the retaliation. And if the last few months have taught us anything, it’s that Trump and Hegseth don’t issue warnings they don’t intend to keep.

Eighty-seven dead narco-terrorists in the Caribbean can testify to that. If they could testify to anything.

Syria’s President Is “Extremely Angry” — And He Should Be

Trump noted that Ahmed al-Sharaa is “extremely angry and disturbed” by this attack. He should be.

Al-Sharaa is trying to establish control over a fractured country. He needs American support to do it. ISIS attacking Americans on Syrian soil doesn’t just threaten U.S. personnel — it threatens al-Sharaa’s legitimacy and his relationship with Washington.

The fact that this happened in territory he doesn’t control makes it worse. It exposes the limits of his authority. It shows the world that Syria still has ungoverned spaces where terrorists can operate.

If al-Sharaa is smart, he’ll coordinate with the incoming retaliation. Help the Americans hunt down every ISIS cell involved in planning this attack. Prove he’s a reliable partner.

Because the alternative — being seen as unable or unwilling to protect American forces — doesn’t end well for anyone trying to lead Syria.

ISIS Thought They Were Forgotten. They Thought Wrong.

Here’s what ISIS was probably thinking: Trump is focused on Venezuela. The administration is busy with the border. Maybe they’ve moved on from the Middle East.

Big mistake.

The U.S. still has forces in Syria specifically to prevent ISIS from reconstituting. The caliphate was destroyed in 2019, but the ideology persists. The cells persist. The threat persists.

And now ISIS just reminded everyone why those forces are still there — and why letting up pressure on these animals is never an option.

Trump’s not going to let this slide. He never does. When Americans are killed, there’s a response. Always. The only question is scale.

“Very Serious Retaliation” — What That Actually Means

When Trump uses words like “very serious,” pay attention to what follows.

After Soleimani killed American contractors, Trump didn’t issue sanctions. He didn’t file complaints with the UN. He sent a Hellfire missile through Soleimani’s car window.

When ISIS was at its peak, Trump didn’t hold strategy sessions for years. He unleashed the military, dropped the MOAB, and crushed the caliphate in months.

“Very serious retaliation” from this administration means kinetic action. It means missiles. It means dead terrorists. It means sending a message that echoes across every cave and safe house where jihadists are hiding.

The people who planned this attack? They’re already on a list. And that list is getting shorter.

The Three Americans Deserve to Be Remembered

The soldiers’ names are being withheld until their families are notified. That’s appropriate. They deserve to hear first.

But we know this: They were doing the hard, dangerous work of keeping Americans safe. Counter-terrorism operations in ungoverned spaces aren’t glamorous. They don’t make headlines until something goes wrong. The men and women who do this work operate in the shadows, far from home, knowing every patrol could be their last.

Two soldiers and one interpreter won’t be coming home to their families this Christmas. They gave everything in a war most Americans don’t even realize is still being fought.

Their sacrifice shouldn’t be forgotten. And it won’t go unanswered.

The Wounded Are “Doing Well” — A Small Mercy

Trump confirmed that the three wounded soldiers are “doing well.” That’s a relief.

They’ll carry the scars of this attack for the rest of their lives. Physical and otherwise. But they’re alive. They’ll see their families again.

The military will take care of them — this administration has made clear that service members are a priority. Not just in rhetoric, but in action. The VA is being reformed. Benefits are being protected. The people who serve are being honored.

When you volunteer to fight for this country, this country should have your back. That’s the deal. And under Trump, it’s a deal that’s being kept.

This Is Why We Can’t Leave the Middle East Entirely

There’s always pressure to bring troops home. To end “forever wars.” To declare victory and leave.

And then something like this happens.

ISIS isn’t gone. It’s diminished, degraded, scattered — but not gone. The ideology that drives men to murder in the name of a medieval caliphate doesn’t disappear because we stopped paying attention.

A small American presence in Syria — conducting patrols, supporting partners, hunting terrorists — is the price of preventing another ISIS resurgence. It’s the price of not having to fight a larger war later.

Three Americans paid that price on Saturday. Their sacrifice means something only if we continue the mission they were killed executing.

The Response Is Coming. Count on It.

Trump promised “very serious retaliation.” Hegseth promised that targeting Americans means living your remaining days knowing death is coming.

ISIS will learn what those promises mean. Soon.

Somewhere in Syria, in the ungoverned spaces where terrorists think they’re safe, American intelligence is already tracking. American drones are already watching. American operators are already planning.

The men who killed our soldiers on Saturday made the last mistake they’ll ever make.

Rest in peace to the fallen. And may God have mercy on the terrorists — because America won’t.