Four Syrian security officers killed in armed attack south of Idlib.

On Sunday, the Syrian Ministry of Interior announced the death of four officers from the Road Security Directorate and the injury of a fifth officer, following an armed attack on their patrol while carrying out their duties on the Maaret al-Numan road south of Idlib province.

The Ministry stated in a communiqué that the patrol came under gunfire from armed assailants, resulting in casualties among the internal security forces.

Syrian state news agency SANA reported that gunmen fired at the security officers, but did not specify the identity of the attackers or the group behind the assault.

This incident occurred in Idlib province, which was once a stronghold for opposition factions and jihadist groups, including foreign fighters, before the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024.

The attack follows a day after an assault on a joint military delegation in Palmyra, central Syria, which resulted in the death of three Americans, including two soldiers and a civilian translator, as well as injuries to U.S. and Syrian military personnel, according to Washington and Damascus.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) had reported the death of the assailant in the Palmyra attack and the injury of three U.S. soldiers, stating that the delegation was on a mission supporting ongoing operations against ISIS.

In the aftermath of the attack, U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to respond, noting that the attack took place in an area described as “highly dangerous” and not under full control by Syrian authorities.