Security Source: Palmyra Attack Perpetrator Was a Member of the General Security Apparatus

A security source said that the perpetrator of the attack that targeted U.S. and Syrian forces near the city of Palmyra during a joint field tour on Saturday was a member of the General Security apparatus to the Syrian Ministry of Interior.

Agence France-Presse quoted the source, who requested anonymity, as saying on Sunday that the attacker had been affiliated with the General Security apparatus for more than ten months and had served in several cities before being transferred to Palmyra. The source added that the authorities arrested more than 11 General Security members and referred them for investigation immediately following the incident.

Earlier, the spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Interior, Nour al-Din al-Baba, explained that the attacker did not hold any leadership position within the internal security apparatus. He noted that the Internal Security Command had previously issued warnings to partner forces in the international coalition regarding preliminary information about the possibility of a security breach or attacks by ISIS, but these warnings were not taken into account, according to him.

Al-Baba added that the number of personnel affiliated with the Internal Security Command in the Badia region exceeds 5,000 members, who are subject to weekly evaluations on the basis of which organizational measures are taken. He pointed out that an evaluation issued on the tenth of the current month regarding the attacker indicated the possibility that he had adopted extremist ideas, and that a decision concerning him was scheduled to be taken on Sunday. However, the attack occurred on Saturday, which is considered an administrative holiday.

For its part, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the killing of the attacker and two U.S. soldiers, in addition to a civilian interpreter, and the injury of three other soldiers, explaining that the delegation was in Palmyra as part of a mission to support ongoing operations against ISIS.

The Syrian government condemned the attack, describing it as “terrorist,” and offered its condolences to the United States. In turn, U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to respond to the attack, noting that the area where it occurred is considered high-risk and not under full control of the Syrian authorities.