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| Syria war: US airstrike on Syrian troops threatens ceasefire deal, Russia says | Syria war: US airstrike on Syrian troops threatens ceasefire deal, Russia says |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A US-coalition led airstrike that hit a Syrian army base has put a "very big question mark" over the current ceasefire, the Russian Ambassador to the UN has said. | A US-coalition led airstrike that hit a Syrian army base has put a "very big question mark" over the current ceasefire, the Russian Ambassador to the UN 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. |
| The US and Russian brokered cessation of hostilities in Syria's civil war, which began last Monday, is mostly holding up, with no civilian deaths reported by rights groups or monitors. | |
| "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 and military backer of the Syrian government, 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 criticised the call on Saturday, accusing Russia of hypocrisy and "pulling a stunt". During the heated council meeting Power and her Russian counterpart, Vitaly Churkin, walked out while the other was speaking. | |
| Calling Ms Power's remarks an "extraordinary display of American heavy-handedness", Mr Churkin implied the American response to the incident could endanger the fragile ceasefire. | Calling Ms Power's remarks an "extraordinary display of American heavy-handedness", Mr Churkin implied the American response to the incident could endanger the fragile ceasefire. |
| "If what Ambassador Power has done today is any indication of their possible reaction then we are in serious trouble," he said. | "If what Ambassador Power has done today is any indication of their possible reaction then we are in serious trouble," he said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Extremist groups Isis and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, the Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in Syria, are not part of the current truce, and the seven-day ceasefire is supposed to lead to unprecedented joint US-Russian airstrikes against them. | Extremist groups Isis and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, the Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in Syria, are not part of the current 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. |