DAMASCUS, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- A joint patrol of Syrian security forces and U.S. troops came under gunfire near the city of Palmyra in central Syria on Saturday, leaving several personnel from both sides wounded, Syrian state media reported.
Two Syrian security members and several U.S. personnel were wounded in the incident, while the attacker was killed, SANA news agency reported, citing a Syrian security source.
The U.S. troops have evacuated the wounded to its military base in southeastern Syria's Al-Tanf area, near the strategic border junction with Iraq and Jordan, it reported, without providing further details on the attack.
Following the incident, traffic on the Deir al-Zour-Damascus highway was temporarily halted, and increased aerial activity was observed as security measures were tightened in the region, it reported.
There was no immediate comment from the U.S. side.
Currently, there are fewer than 1,000 U.S. troops still stationed in Syria in what Pentagon said is part of the efforts to help counter Islamic State militants there. ■
