In a rare direct confrontation between US and pro-government Syrian forces on Monday, one Syrian soldier was reported killed and two injured after an alleged coalition airstrike in the Qamishli region, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Syrian media.
The US, in turn, has claimed that no airstrike was carried out but that coalition forces returned fire after being attacked after passing through a pro-Syrian regime checkpoint.
“On Aug. 17 at appx. 9:20 am (Syria Time), Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces, conducting a routine anti-ISIS security patrol near Tal Al-Zahab, Syria, encountered a checkpoint occupied by pro-Syrian regime forces. After receiving safe passage from the pro-regime forces, the patrol came under small arms fire from individuals in the vicinity of the checkpoint. Coalition troops returned fire in self-defence. The Coalition did not conduct an airstrike. No coalition casualties occurred. The Coalition patrol returned to base. The incident remains under investigation” the Coalition forces said in a statement.
According to reports, a US helicopter gunship attacked a Syrian army checkpoint after the Syrian army prevented an American convoy from passing through.
Syrian state TV said the attack took place in the village of Tal Dahab, near the town of Qamishli.
E. #Syria: video showing US forces heavily firing at the #SAA checkpoint this morning after the patrol was blocked in the SE. Qamishli countryside. One dead & 2 wounded among SAA. pic.twitter.com/0zCGsHkL1F
— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) August 17, 2020