US airstrike hits Syrian forces within de-confliction zone

US-led coalition aircraft struck a pro-Syrian government convoy as it headed toward a remote coalition garrison near the Jordanian border, a US defence official said
Thursday, 18 May 2017 20:15

The U.S.-led coalition conducted a strike in southern Syria against pro-Syrian government forces that were operating in a well-established de-confliction zone, a U.S. Defense sources said.

The coalition conducted the strike because the forces "posed a threat" to the U.S. at Tanf base near the joint Syria-Iraq-Jordan border, where U.S. special forces operate and train some terrorist groups including Free Syrian Army. The At-Tanf Garrison is used by special US and British commandos. 

"This action was taken after apparent Russian attempts to dissuade Syrian pro-regime movement south towards At Tanf were unsuccessful, a coalition aircraft show of force, and the firing of warning shots," the coalition said in a statement. 

One of the officials said the strikes near the town of At Tanf destroyed at least one tank and a bulldozer, and another said it followed warning shots by U.S. aircraft meant to dissuade the fighters from advancing further. The source said the convoy was significant in size, but only the lead vehicles were hit.

"The strike did happen. It was against a pro-regime force operating in the vicinity of At Tanf. This regime force was operating within a well-established de-confliction zone," the defence official said.

The official was "not sure" which forces were in the convoy but they "were clearly working with the Syria". A member of the Pentagon-backed terrorist forces told Reuters the strikes hit a convoy of "Syrian and Iranian-backed militias" that were heading toward a base used by U.S. and U.S.-supported forces.

ILLEGAL U.S.-UK BASE

U.S. is known for its official support of the so-called "moderate opposition" and the secret support of the Islamic State jihadist group. The U.S. uses its bases not to fight terrorism as they claim, but to overthrow the Syrian government. The US-UK base has been created illegally and as a violation of both the sovereignty of Syria and international law.

On June 16, 2016, Russian planes in Syria had hit a remote military installation at Al-Tanf. According to the publication of The Wall Street Journal, citing military sources states, the aim was a secret base of the US and the UK. The government and military in all three countries, according to the newspaper, ignore this fact. 

The U.S. military states, that some cluster bombs were dropped on the base. After that, the representatives of the U.S. Central Command in Qatar called Russian colleagues in Latakia, explaining that the facility that was bombed is a part of the American infrastructure. But a second blow was delivered some 30 minutes after this.