US bombing syria
US-led coalition jets have bombed Syrian government forces' positions near the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor, "paving the way" for Islamic State militants, the Syrian Army General Command told the state television.

According to Syria's official SANA news agency, the bombing took place on al-Tharda Mountain in the region of Deir ez-Zor and caused casualties and destruction on the ground.


Comment: The Syrian Army and 'ISIS' have been engaged in battle for weeks to take al-Tharda, the highest point in the region.


Sixty-two Syrian soldiers were killed and over 100 injured in the airstrike by the US-led coalition, Russia's Defense Ministry spokesman, Major-General Igor Konashenkov, said, citing information received from the Syrian General Command.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday that the aircraft which carried out the bombings had entered Syrian airspace from the territory of Iraq. The airstrike against Syrian positions was performed by two F-16 jet fighters and two A-10 support aircraft, it said.

Even if the bombardment of the Syrian government troops was a mistake, it's still a consequence of Washington's unwillingness to coordinate its anti-terror efforts with Moscow, the ministry said.

deir ez-zor bombing
The site of the US bombing is here denoted by 'Tal Thardah'
The Defense Ministry also confirmed a report by SANA that an Islamic State offensive began right after Syrian Army positions were hit from the air.


Comment: A military source told RIA Novosti:
"After the airstrikes, the terrorists started attacking army positions. It looked like air support. Heavy fighting is now ongoing."

The actions of the coalition "clearly paved the way for Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorists to attack the position and take control of it," the agency said citing the General Command of the Army and Armed Forces.

The General Command has called the bombing a "serious and blatant aggression" against Syrian forces, and said it was "conclusive evidence" that the US and its allies support IS militants.

Earlier on Saturday, Russia accused the US of being reluctant to take measures to force rebels under its control to fall in line with the terms of the Syrian ceasefire.

Numerous Russian appeals to the American side remain unanswered, which "raises doubts over the US's ability to influence opposition groups under their control and their willingness to further ensure the implementation of the Geneva agreements," senior Russian General Staff official, Viktor Poznikhir, said.

Poznikhir also said that the truce is being used by the militants to regroup, resupply and prepare an offensive against government troops.