The state Department said that “Russian mercenaries” allegedly attacked U.S. forces in Syria
WASHINGTON, 18 Jul — RIA Novosti. Assistant Secretary of state Uess Mitchell claims that “Russian mercenaries” allegedly tried to attack the position of the American military in Syria.
“They (Russia — ed.) reckless intervention in Syria and support for the regime (Syrian President Bashar) al-Assad increased the risk of confrontation with the West. The failed attack on the American forces of the Russian mercenaries in Syria recently was one of the sobering examples of this behavior,” — said in a written statement of Mitchell before the international Committee of the U.S. house of representatives.
He noted that the conflict in Syria can only be resolved during the Geneva talks under the UN auspices.
“We insist that Russia has been a constructive participant in this process and brought Assad to the negotiating table. So far, Russia has ignored these calls and instead tore (negotiations) in Geneva,” — says the American diplomat.
In February, the official representative of Russian foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said that the Russian foreign Ministry confirmed the death of five Russians in an attack by U.S.-led coalition in Syria, but their citizenship to be confirmed. The representative of the Russian foreign Ministry further stressed that we are not talking about Russian soldiers.
Earlier the coalition announced the “unprovoked attack” on the headquarters of the “Syrian democratic forces” (SDF) on the part of Pro-government armed groups in eight kilometers to the East of the agreed line to prevent conflicts on the Euphrates river in the province of Deir ez-Zor. In the message command was specified that had suffered retaliatory strikes “to repel an act of aggression against all the partners involved in the fight against the group ISIS (banned in Russia)”. In the us media it was reported that killed about 100 fighters of the Syrian Pro-government forces.
According to the defense Ministry, in an attack wounded 25 Syrian militias. The Russian defense Ministry also noted that the cause of the incident were not consistent with Russian reconnaissance and search actions militiamen near an oil refinery against the “sleeping cells.” However, the defense Ministry, unlike the Pentagon, said that the shelling, the militia was sudden.