Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

U.S.-led Jets Kill Dozens of Syrian Soldiers | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55358541
Caption:

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) meets with U.S. President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, September 5, 2016. Sputnik/Kremlin/Alexei Druzhinin/via REUTERS


Beirut, Washington- Dozens of regime forces soldiers were killed in the U.S.-led coalition airstrikes that struck Syrian military bases in Deir el-Zour.

The U.S. Central Command issued a statement stating that “the airstrike was halted immediately when coalition officials were informed by Russian officials that it was possible the personnel and vehicles targeted were part of the Syrian military.”

Syria’s military says the U.S.-led coalition struck its base in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour, allowing ISIS to advance, wounding more than 120 and killing up to 83.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that this is the first of its kind strike by the U.S.-led coalition since it started its operations in Syria on 23 September 2014. The observatory did not rule out the possibility that this strike might affect negatively the abilities of the regime forces in Deir el-Zour.

Deir el-Zour is the last stronghold of the Syrian regime in east Syria; the regime forces are fighting since two years to defend the city and the military airport knowing that ISIS carried out several operations and succeeded to seize part of Deir el-Zour.

The defense ministry in Russia said U.S. jets had killed more than 60 Syrian soldiers and wounded up to 100. Later on, the toll increased to 80 soldiers, according to the observatory.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said that if the coalition bombing was a mistake, then it is an evidence of Washington’s “stubborn refusal” to coordinate its actions with Russia’s government.

Earlier, Washington and Moscow exchanged accusations of the deterioration of the cease-fire truce in Syria and the delay of humanitarian aid arrival to damaged areas. Washington hinted that it might not cooperate with Moscow on the military level unless Russia pressures the Syrian regime to allow the passage of humanitarian aid to damaged areas where up to 250,000 Syrians are besieged.