US-backed fighters in Syria hit by airstrike

BEIRUT — A U.S.-backed force in Syria said a Russian airstrike wounded six of its fighters Saturday near the eastern city of Deir el-Zour.

Also, Syrian troops and their Iran-backed allies began a new effort to capture areas along the Iraq border under the cover of Russian airstrikes, the force said.

The command of the Kurdishled Syrian Democratic Forces said in a statement that Saturday’s air raid occurred on the eastern side of the Euphrates River in the industrial area that was recently liberated from the Islamic State group.

The U.S. military said in a statement that Russian forces struck a target east of the Euphrates River near Deir elZour causing injuries to U.S.-led Coalition partner forces.

“Russian munitions impacted a location known to the Russians to contain Syrian Democratic Forces and Coalition advisers,” the statement said, adding that the wounded SDF fighters received medical care following the strike.