Iraqi Shiite militia says 40 killed in Syria attack

A powerful Iraqi Shiite militia said that at least 40 of its militiamen were killed in an attack on its positions across the border in Syria.

Yesterday, the militia blamed the United Statesled coalition for the assault but the Islamic State group claimed its fighters had targeted the militiamen.

The deputy head of the militia, known as Kattaib Sayeed al-shuhadaa, accused US forces of carrying out the assault on Monday morning.

The Baghdad-based spokesman of the Us-led coalition, Col Ryan Dillon, dismissed the allegation, saying that no coalition air strikes took place in the area at the time.

The militia vowed that “this act will not pass without punishment”.

Several Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite militias have been fighting in Syria alongside Syrian government troops.