At least eight people killed as US-led coalition strikes Syria's Deir ez-Zor

RT
Fri, 22 Jun 2018 08:29 UTC

© US Air Force / Reuters

A pair of US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles

At least eight people have been killed in Syria following an airstrike by the US-led coalition in Deir ez-Zor province, according to state-run television.

The airstrike, which targeted the village of al-Shaafa, also destroyed a number of houses, as well as infrastructure, according to SANA.

It comes as the US State Department said it was "deeply troubled by reports of increasing Syrian regime operations" in southwestern Syria on Thursday, after the government moved to regain control of rebel-held areas.

Washington said it would take "firm and appropriate measures" in response to what it believes are government violations of the de-escalation deal it brokered with Russia last year to contain the conflict in the southwestern part of the country.

"Syrian regime military and militia units, according to our reports, have violated the southwest de-escalation zone and initiated air strikes, artillery, and rocket attacks," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement, as quoted by Reuters. The department warned the Russian government and the Bashar Assad government of "serious repercussions" for the so-called violations.

The Thursday strike comes just days after coalition aircraft allegedly bombed Syrian military positions in the Al-Bukamal area of Deir ez-Zor province. SANA reported on the strike, citing a military source who said there were fatalities and injuries. However, after the Pentagon denied any involvement saying it was "not a US or coalition strike," some media reports citing US officials blamed Israel for the attack.

Comment: At least one Syrian soldier was killed in a US-led coalition airstrike on Syrian army positions in the east of Homs province on Thursday, a Syrian field commander told Sputnik.

"The combat planes belonging to the coalition led by the United States, attacked the army position in Jabal Ghurab, some 150 kilometers [93 miles] east of Palmyra near the border with Iraq," the commander said.

"One serviceman was killed and several others wounded," he added.

According to a Syrian field commander, the sudden US-led coalition air assault occured after Syrian forces responded to an open fire from three coalition's vehicles, moving towards positions of governmental forces.

See also: Syria state media says US-led coalition strikes Syrian army positions in Deir ez-Zor, Pentagon denies report