Damascus, Dec 15 (V7N) — Syria’s Interior Ministry has arrested five suspects in connection with a deadly attack on a joint US and Syrian forces convoy in the central city of Palmyra, authorities said.

The attack took place on Saturday (December 13) when a gunman opened fire on the convoy, killing two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter. The attacker was later killed in retaliatory fire by security forces.

According to the Interior Ministry, the assailant was a member of Syria’s security forces and is suspected of having links or sympathies with the Islamic State (IS).

In a statement, the ministry said that the five suspects were arrested during a raid in Palmyra, carried out in coordination with international coalition forces. The detainees have been sent for immediate interrogation.

At least five other US and Syrian personnel were injured in the attack. US President Donald Trump said that three injured US soldiers are now in stable condition.

Washington has blamed Islamic State militants for the attack since the outset. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later held a phone conversation with Syrian Foreign Minister Asad al-Sheibani, during which Sheibani expressed condolences to the victims’ families and reaffirmed the Syrian government’s commitment to defeating ISIS.

The United States has maintained a troop presence in northeastern Syria for over a decade as part of the international campaign against the Islamic State. Last month, Syrian authorities arrested more than 70 people nationwide in raids linked to ISIS activities.

END/SMA/AJ