BEIRUT: A US-backed force in Syria said a Russian air strike wounded six of its fighters on Saturday near the eastern city of Deir Ezzor while in southeast Syria, troops and their Iran-backed allies began a new offensive aiming to capture areas along the Iraq border under the cover of Russian air strikes.

The command of the Kurdish-led 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 militant Islamic State group.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the air strike, but said it was not clear if it was carried out by Russian or Syrian warplanes.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2017