The commander of the Operation Inherent Resolve coalition, Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, said that Tuesday Russian and Syrian aircraft bombed militia forces that are supported by the US in Syria. It is being reported that the series of bombings came within about three miles of US forces operating in the area.
US personnel advising and assisting Turkish forces advance observed the airstrikes on the militia units near al-Bab, a city in the northern part of Syria.
When it became apparent that the strikes were hitting Syrian Arab Coalition positions, the US made “some quick calls” to Russia through the established communication channels and Russia stopped the bombing.
ISIS forces had previously held the villages before Syrian Arab Coalition forces moved in. “And so we worked out an arrangement, a deconfliction,” Townsend said. “This is something that goes on daily in the air. Not every day on the ground, but daily in the air there’s a deconfliction arrangement with the Russians.” – Air Force Magazine
Watch: Russian and Syrian Aircraft Strike US support fighters in Syria
There are no reports that the US forces in the area were ever at risk. Approximately 500 US special forces are engaged in activities advising anti-ISIS fighters in Syria.
Featured image by Sputnik/ Dmitriy Vinogradov
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