Unic Press UK: On Tuesday, the 11th April 2017, air strikes by U.S.-led coalition forces fighting the Islamic State in Syria killed eighteen members of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters, the United States Department of Defense said in a statement.
The full statement by the U.S. Department of Defense, which was issued on Thursday, reads:
“Coalition airstrike in support of partnered forces fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria south of Tabqah, Syria, resulted in the deaths of 18 Syrian Democratic Forces personnel April 11, according to a U.S. Central Command news release issued today.
“The coalition’s deepest condolences go out to the members of the SDF and their families, the release said. The coalition is in close contact with its SDF partners who have expressed a strong desire to remain focused on the fight against ISIS despite this tragic incident.
“The coalition is assessing the cause of the incident and will implement appropriate safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
The ongoing Syrian civil war started in 2011, and the U.S. had been enmeshed in the war for a long term, supporting some of the militia fighting against the Syrian army.
About a week ago, the U.S. military attacked a Syrian airbase with 59 missiles, saying it was reacting to chemical attacks on innocents by the Syrian government. President Donald Trump had authorized a direct U.S. military attack on Syrian soil in response to “allegations” that the Syrian government had attacked its own people in the city of Idlib with chemical weapons.
The Syrian government had earlier dismissed allegations that its army had attacked the Syrians with chemical weapons anywhere, the city of Idlib included. Syria’s foreign minister, Walid Muallem at a press conference in Damascus on Thursday said:
“I stress to you once again: the Syrian army has not, did not, and will not use this kind of weapons – not just against our own people, but even against the terrorists that are targeting our civilians indiscriminately.”
After the U.S. attacked a Syrian airbase, the Russia government suspended the memorandum of understanding on flight safety in Syria that it inked with the United States.
Russia Prime Minister chided the U.S. over the attacks on a Syrian airbase, saying:
“Трампа доказала, что будет яростно вести борьбу с законным правительством Сирии. В жестком противоречии с нормами международного права, без одобрения ООН. С нарушением собственных процедур, устанавливающих необходимость предварительного уведомления Конгресса о военной операции, которая не связана с нападением на США. На грани боевых столкновений с Россией.”
See translation:
“Trump’s administration proved that she will violently combat with legal Syria government. In tough contradiction with the norms of international law, without the approval of UN. With infringement of its own procedures setting necessity of prior notification of the Congress of military operation which is not connected with attack on USA. On the side of fighting collisions with Russia.” (Dmitry Medvedev: 7th April 2017)
A few days ago, there was widespread protests in several cities across the United States over the recent bombardment of a Syrian airbase by U.S. military.
Protesters expressing disgust over the Syrian war, April 2017
