Is Russia preparing to ATTACK US troops in Syria? Moscow warns it will target areas held by US Special Forces if the Kremlin’s soldiers are fired on ‘again’ by anti-Assad forces
Russian troops are fighting with the Syrian army to recapture city of Deir Ezzor
Syrian Democratic Forces and US special forces have also moved on the city
Moscow says its troops have come under fire twice from American positions
Russia said its soldiers are prepared to return fire if they are threatened
CHRIS PLEASANCE
DAILYMAIL.COM
21 September 2017
Russia has said its troops are prepared to fire on US positions in Syria if they come under attack by American-backed soldiers ‘again’.
The Kremlin accused US forces of ‘twice’ firing on positions being occupied by the army of Bashar al-Assad, which is fighting alongside Russian special forces to recapture the city of Deir Ezzor from ISIS.
Moscow said the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are being supported by US troops on the ground, opened fire with artillery and mortars, though did not say when.
If this happens again, ‘those areas will be immediately suppressed with all military means’, Russian commander Major-General Igor Konashenkov said.
He added: ‘A representative of the U.S. military command was told in no uncertain terms that any attempts to open fire from areas where SDF fighters are located would be quickly shut down.’
Russia said SDF forces, which are mostly comprised of Kurdish People’s Liberation Army battalions, had split away from fighting around ISIS’s de-facto capital in Raqqa to join the battle in Deir Ezzor.
The Syrian Arab Army, controlled by Assad, is currently fighting along the western shore of the Euphrates river and has pushed into the main city.
Meanwhile the SDF has taken up positions on the opposite bank and are fighting towards the outlying town of Hussainiyah.
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