Mike Pence claimed ISIS had been defeated – hours after the fatal attack (Image: GETTY)
Meanwhile he also indicated talks over denuclearising North Korea had stalled – and claimed the United States now faced a “wolf pack” of rogue states including Iran and Venezuela. Pence did not mention the attack in his address to 184 chiefs of US diplomatic missions who gather annually in Washington from around the world to discuss foreign policy strategy. Speaking to US ambassadors and other senior American diplomats, referring to the terrorist organisation, which is also referred to as Daesh: “The caliphate has crumbled and ISIS has been defeated.”
In separate statements later, both the White House and Pence condemned the attack and expressed sympathy for the deaths of the US personnel.
The Pentagon said two US service members, a Department of Defence civilian employee and one contractor working for the military were killed.
In addition three service members were injured in the blast in the northern Syria town of Manbij.
An Islamic State-affiliated website said the attack was the work of a suicide bomber.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks (Image: GETTY)
Mr Trump made a surprise announcement on December 19 that he would withdraw 2,000 US troops from Syria after concluding that Islamic State had been defeated
