Missile fired by IS wounds two Special Forces troops in Syria

‘Be aware that IS is not defeated’

TWO British Special Forces servicemen were seriously injured by an Islamic State missile attack on a checkpoint they were manning.

The pair were keeping watch in Al-Shifa town, near the city of Hajin, in the east of the country, as fighting raged with militants.

Saturday’s attack sparked heavy clashes which continued for hours.

Although the troops were said to have ‘serious injuries’, sources on the ground said last night that they were not life-threatening.

It is believed the pair were with a small group of UK troops and Kurdish forces at the time. Two members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) embedded with the UK troops were also injured.

A source from the Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units said: ‘IS carried out a guided missile attack ... US helicopters evacuated them [the UK soldiers] from the area immediately.’

British troops have been in Syria for years but the UK government does not admit their presence. They provide logistical support, training, advice and guarding checkpoints, sources said.

Last month, Donald Trump announced he was withdrawing US troops from Syria, claiming IS had been defeated.

The President’s decision shocked the Kurdish forces and western allies, including Britain, which said it would have to assess its commitment to the fight.

SDF fighters are still engaged in heavy fighting in Deir Ezzor province, supported by British and US airpower. Mustafa Bali, of the SDF, tweeted on Saturday: ‘ Heavy clashes are taking place currently between our forces and IS terrorists due to an attack by IS on one of our points. Everybody should be aware that IS is not defeated.’

Last night, it was not known where the IS weapon had been manufactured but it was understood to be a heat-seeking missile. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: ‘We do not comment on Special Forces operations.’

The Pentagon’s chief of staff became the third senior defence official to quit since Mr Trump said US forces would be leaving Syria.

Rear Admiral Kevin Sweeney said ‘the time is right to return to the private sector’ in a terse resignation letter that thanked colleagues but made no mention of the President.

Mr Sweeney’s resignation follows defence secretary Jim Mattis and Brett McGurk, special envoy to the global coalition fighting IS.