US-led coalition strikes kill 100 pro-regime personnel in Syria

THE ESCALATING VIOLENCE CAME DAYS AFTER A FAILED PEACE CONFERENCE IN SOCHI SPONSORED BY RUSSIA, THE MAIN BACKER OF THE ASSAD REGIME.

BEIRUT: The US-led coalition in Syria said it killed at least 100 proregime fighters on Thursday to fend off an attack on its allies, one of its deadliest confrontations yet with forces backing Damascus.

The initial attack was carried out by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad on key oil and gas installations in parts of Deir Ezzor province controlled by US-backed Kurdish forces.

The clash came against a backdrop of escalating tensions between Washington and Damascus over an uptick in the suspected use of chemical weapons by Assad’s regime and allied militia.

According to the US Central Command, coalition advisers were present in the area that was attacked by pro-government forces in Deir Ezzor province on Wednesday.

“The coalition conducted strikes against attacking forces to repel the act of aggression” against its own personnel and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hosting them, it said.

Syria’s state media said the coalition bombed governmentbacked troops in Khusham, describing them as tribal fighters.

Official SANA news agency said the fighters were battling IS militants and the SDF in the area and labelled it an “aggression” and a “new massacre.”

Meanwhile, regime warplanes rained bombs for a fourth consecutive day on the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta, outside Damascus, where the death toll has soared to more than 180 since Monday.