President Donald Trump said Sunday that there would be “big damage” in Syria after an attack killed two U.S. service members and an American civilian. Trump made the remarks while addressing guests at a White House Christmas reception, where he began by offering condolences to victims of a violent weekend that included the Syria attack, a shooting at Brown University, and a deadly antisemitic assault in Australia.
“In Syria there will be a lot of damage done to the people that did it,” Trump said. He added that authorities “got the person” responsible for the attack, but warned that “there’ll be big damage done.”
Syria’s Interior Ministry said the attacker targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces near Palmyra on Saturday before being shot dead. The ministry also said five suspects linked to the incident were arrested during a coordinated security operation, reports Newsmax.
The president described those killed in Syria as “three great patriots” and was sure to emphasize that the attack was carried out by ISIS rather than the Syrian government.
“The Syrian government fought by our side. The new president fought by our side,” Trump said, noting danger facing U.S. forces even as the United States works alongside partners to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State.
According to the ministry, the attacker was a member of Syria’s security forces who was suspected of sympathizing with the Islamic State. U.S. Central Command said three additional U.S. soldiers were wounded in the attack.
Trump also referenced attacks domestically, such as “Brown University, nine injured, and two” killed, and said authorities had detained a “person of interest.” Officials in Rhode Island later confirmed that a person of interest had been taken into custody following the Brown University shooting. They had since been released on Monday.
Turning to events overseas, Trump cited an attack in Australia that left at least 16 people dead during a Hanukkah celebration at a popular Sydney beach. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as an act of antisemitic terrorism.
“We’re here to celebrate Christmas and to celebrate, and I think today we can say very loudly we celebrate Hanukkah because that was such a horrible attack,” Trump said.