Russia says five citizens killed in US strike

Russia has acknowledged that five of its citizens have been killed by a US strike in Syria, the first time Russians have died at US hands in the war-torn Middle Eastern nation.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasised that the five victims were not Russian servicemen.

“According to preliminary information, five people, presumably Russian citizens, may have been killed in combat, the circumstances of which are being clarified,” Ms Zakharova said in a briefing.

“Some others have been injured, and it’s still necessary to check whether they are citizens of Russia or other nations.”

Until yesterday, both Russian and US officials said they had no information on Russian casualties in the 7 February clash, which came when prosyrian government forces attacked positions of the Us-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters in the oil-rich eastern province of Deir elzour and faced a ferocious US counterattack.