Photo: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
Russia has rejected accusations of airstrikes on the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near the Syrian city of Deir Ezzor, the Russian state-run media outlet RT reported citing Russian military spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov.
“In the course of the Syrian Army operation to exterminate the last [ISIS] stronghold in Dei ez-Zor, the Russian Air Force performs precision strikes on terrorist-held objects, according to intelligence confirmed through several channels. The strikes are performed on detected IS [ISIS] positions, which fire at Syrian troops, as well as on terrorist reserves coming from the rear,” RT quoted Konashenkov as saying.
Konashenkov added that the Russian side did not register “any engagements between SDF militants and IS terrorists rearward.”
“That specifically relates to the area of hydrocarbon fields in the province, where the militants fiercely resist the advancing Syrian troops,” the spokesman said.
Earlier on Monday, the SDF and pro-SDF media argued that Russian warplanes had conducted airstrikes on SDF positions north of Deir Ezzor as well as Syrian government forces were shelling the SDF in the same area.
