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US accuses Russia of pulling 'stunts' – after American forces kill dozens of Syrian soldiers | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Russian demands for an emergency United Nations meeting on a US airstrike that hit a Syrian army base in the middle of a ceasefire and killed dozens of soldiers are a “stunt”, a US official has said. | |
American coalition led strikes near Isis territory in the east of Syria accidentally hit Syrian army positions instead, a US official confirmed late on Saturday night. The operation was halted when the mistake was realised. | American coalition led strikes near Isis territory in the east of Syria accidentally hit Syrian army positions instead, a US official confirmed late on Saturday night. The operation was halted when the mistake was realised. |
“Syria is a complex situation with various military forces and militias in close proximity, but coalition forces would not intentionally strike a known Syrian military unit,” a State Department official said. | “Syria is a complex situation with various military forces and militias in close proximity, but coalition forces would not intentionally strike a known Syrian military unit,” a State Department official said. |
Russia, a close ally of the Syrian government, has asked for an emergency council meeting at the United Nations, saying that if the bombing was a mistake, it is evidence of the US's “stubborn refusal” to co-ordinate military action with Moscow in Syria's civil war. | Russia, a close ally of the Syrian government, has asked for an emergency council meeting at the United Nations, saying that if the bombing was a mistake, it is evidence of the US's “stubborn refusal” to co-ordinate military action with Moscow in Syria's civil war. |
US envoy to the UN Samantha Power dismissed the call, accusing Russia of “pulling a stunt”. | US envoy to the UN Samantha Power dismissed the call, accusing Russia of “pulling a stunt”. |
The Russian foreign minister told the UN that the strike has threatened the implementation of the peace deal. | |
Moscow said that 62 soldiers were killed in the bombing near Deir-ez-Zour, which the Syrian army called “blatant and dangerous aggression”. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 80 died, and that Russian jets had been conducting strikes in the area at the same time. | |
Isis claimed they gained “complete control” over Jebel Tharda near Deir-ez-Zour airport in the ensuing chaos, but both Russian and Syrian state media have said all lost positions were recaptured in a matter of hours. | Isis claimed they gained “complete control” over Jebel Tharda near Deir-ez-Zour airport in the ensuing chaos, but both Russian and Syrian state media have said all lost positions were recaptured in a matter of hours. |
The terror group has control of Deir-ez-Zour city and much of the surrounding area. | The terror group has control of Deir-ez-Zour city and much of the surrounding area. |
The US-led coalition has been conducting air strikes against Isis since September 2014, and is also supporting rebel groups against President Bashar al-Assad elsewhere in the country. | The US-led coalition has been conducting air strikes against Isis since September 2014, and is also supporting rebel groups against President Bashar al-Assad elsewhere in the country. |
The US' swift admission of culpability is being seen as damage control in a bid to save the fragile ceasefire currently in place across Syria. | The US' swift admission of culpability is being seen as damage control in a bid to save the fragile ceasefire currently in place across Syria. |
The US and Russian brokered cessation of hostilities, which began last Monday, is mostly holding up, with no civilian deaths reported by rights groups or monitors. | The US and Russian brokered cessation of hostilities, which began last Monday, is mostly holding up, with no civilian deaths reported by rights groups or monitors. |
Extremist groups Isis and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in Syria, were not part of the truce, and the seven-day ceasefire is supposed to lead to unprecedented joint US-Russian airstrikes against them. | Extremist groups Isis and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in Syria, were not part of the truce, and the seven-day ceasefire is supposed to lead to unprecedented joint US-Russian airstrikes against them. |
Opening humanitarian corridors into the besieged city of Aleppo was also a key part of the ceasefire deal. Six days in, UN trucks are still at the Syrian-Turkey border waiting for permission from the Syrian government. Rebel groups inside the city are also reportedly blocking the route. | Opening humanitarian corridors into the besieged city of Aleppo was also a key part of the ceasefire deal. Six days in, UN trucks are still at the Syrian-Turkey border waiting for permission from the Syrian government. Rebel groups inside the city are also reportedly blocking the route. |
The US and Russia have disagreed over who is to blame for the hold up. | The US and Russia have disagreed over who is to blame for the hold up. |