Palmyra-- Syrian security services have detained five suspects in connection with an attack on a US-Syrian military group in Palmyra that killed three people, the Syrian Interior Ministry said on December 14, Syrian media reported on December 14.

The operation to identify the group behind the attack was conducted in full coordination with Syria's reformed General Intelligence Directorate and international coalition forces, based on precise intelligence, according to the ministry's statement.

The five suspects were immediately handed over for investigation to both the Syrian and US authorities, according to certain channens in Syria.

The Pentagon confirmed that two US servicemembers and one civilian translator were killed on December 13 in the attack in Palmyra, with three others wounded.

A new Syrian Interior Ministry representative said the attack was carried out by a member of the Islamic State terrorist organisation, which is banned in Russia.

One Syrian service member was also killed in the incident, according to the statement.

Syrian state television channel Syria TV had earlier reported that Syrian security services launched an operation in Palmyra against the Islamic State terrorist group.

US President Donald Trump has pledged serious retaliation following an Islamic State attack in Palmyra that killed two American soldiers and one civilian interpreter, with three others injured.

"We mourn the loss of three Great American Patriots in Syria, two soldiers, and one Civilian Interpreter," Trump wrote on social media on December 14. "This was an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them."

Trump said the three injured soldiers are doing well and confirmed that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is "extremely angry and disturbed by this attack".

"There will be very serious retaliation," Trump wrote.

The US should reconsider its military presence in Syria following the recent attack on American troops in Palmyra that killed three people, Senator Rand Paul said on December 14.

"The soldiers who died are certainly heroes who fought for their country. The big question is whether they should be there," the Republican senator from Kentucky told NBC News.

"The people who killed our soldiers must be punished. At the same time, we need to reconsider whether we should be stationing troops there in the first place."