A coalition led by the United States to combat the Islamic State group * (IG * - banned in Russia) stated that pro-government armed forces attacked the headquarters of the "Syrian Democratic Forces" (SDF), in which American advisers were located, after which the reciprocal a blow to the Syrian military.

"Syrian pro-government forces initiated an unprovoked attack on the headquarters of the" Syrian Democratic Forces "on February 7. The coalition soldiers were acting as advisers, assistants and escort forces together with SDF partners during the attack eight kilometers east of the agreed conflict prevention line on the Euphrates River, - said in the message of the command.

"To protect coalition and partner forces, the coalition struck at the attacking forces in order to reflect the act of aggression against the partners involved in the fight against the IG grouping," the statement says.

Information about the victims as a result of the incident is not given. The coalition noted that the main task in Syria is considered to be the fight against the IG *, but they reserve the right to self-defense.

"Legal measures"

President of the United States Donald Trump in mid-December last year sent a letter to both houses of Congress, which described the current military operations involving the US military, in particular in Syria.

"Since the last periodic report, the US armed forces involved in the campaign against the IG * (banned in the Russian Federation - Ed.) In Syria have inflicted a limited number of strikes on the Syrian government and pro-government forces, which were legal measures to counter obvious threats to the US forces and their partners participating in this campaign, "- said in a letter to Trump, the text of which was published by the press service of the White House.

On June 8, the US-led coalition struck a blow at Syrian pro-government forces in the vicinity of At-Tanf. As the official spokesman for the coalition Ryan Dillon said, the tank and artillery installations that were part of the so-called conflict prevention zone and threatened the allied coalition of forces were destroyed.

Ten days later, the air force of the US-led coalition against IG * shot down the Su-22 Syrian fighter in the province of Rakka after he allegedly dropped bombs near the positions of the "Syrian Democratic Forces," the coalition said earlier. Damascus stated that the Syrian Air Force aircraft was carrying out the mission against the IG * (a terrorist group is banned in Russia).

Unconvincing assurances from the United States

Earlier in the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the US assurances that their military are in Syria to fight terrorists are unconvincing and can not withstand any criticism.

In Moscow, Washington's attempts to justify the use of armed force against the sovereignty and territorial inviolability of Syria are unacceptable.

"US assurances that their military are allegedly on Syrian soil to fight terrorists are unconvincing and do not stand up to any criticism." We demand that we remove any restrictions on access to convoys with food and medicine, and increase the transparency of ongoing humanitarian actions. "We remind that the armed forces The United States is fully responsible in the occupied 55-kilometer zone of the Syrian Aeth-Tanf, "the Foreign Ministry concluded.

Link: https://ria.ru/syria/20180208/1514192379.html