Russia Accuses US-backed Rebels Of Hindering Syria IS Fight
Sumaira FH Published September 19, 2017 | 11:00 PM
Russia on Tuesday accused US-backed rebels in Syria of targeting regime forces to try to halt their advance against Islamic State militants around the city of Deir Ezzor
MOSCOW, Sept 19, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Sep, 2017 ) - Russia on Tuesday accused US-backed rebels in Syria of targeting regime forces to try to halt their advance against Islamic State militants around the city of Deir Ezzor.
In a statement the Russian military said it had received reports from Syrian generals that regime forces that crossed the strategic Euphrates River were faced with "gunfire from the north" near Deir Ezzor.
Moscow claimed that shooting came from a zone controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) supported by Washington. The statement also accused the rebels of opening dams on the Euphrates to stop government forces from crossing the river.
"A few hours after the Syrian forces started to cross the river, the water level rose and the speed of outflow doubled," it said. Despite this, Russia said that Syrian forces have captured some 60 square kilometres (23 square miles) of territory on the eastern side of the river after bridging it on Monday.
Until Monday, Syrian troops had been fighting only west of the Euphrates, while the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces waged a rival offensive against IS east of the river. To prevent the two operations from clashing, the coalition, the SDF, Syria's government and Russia have agreed on a "de-confliction line" in northeast Syria.
That line runs from the neighbouring province of Raqa southeast along the Euphrates to Deir Ezzor. On Saturday, however, the US-led coalition backing the SDF accused Russian aviation of bombing them in the north east of Deir Ezzor, which Moscow denies.
A spokesman for the US-led coalition targeting IS Colonel Ryan Dillon said he did not "know how that could be the case" that the SDF or coalition were slowing the Syrian advance. Dillon said it was "beneficial" to have all sides there, adding: "IS now has to swivel their heads to the east and to the west and to the north, because they're being assaulted from so many different directions".
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Punjab CM inaugurates Pakistan’s first Virtual Women Police Station
Dutch model Donny Roelvink embraces Islam
Experts raise concerns over introduction of 10-stick packs
Iranian president arrives in Karachi
Law Minister expresses Govt's resolve to address issue of missing persons
Rizwan’s batting order may be changed: Sources
Nawaz Sharif to visit Guangzhou exhibition in China
FM Dar not traveling to China: Foreign Office
PM takes notice of deliberate delay in tax cases
Iranian President visits Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum
Iranian President arrives in Lahore today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 23 April 2024
More Stories From World
-
Migrant boat capsizes off Djibouti leaving 21 dead
5 hours ago -
Tesla profits tumble 55% as EV sales under pressure
5 hours ago -
Talks on global plastic treaty begin in Canada
6 hours ago -
Migrant deportations loom after parliament passes UK-Rwanda plan
6 hours ago -
Macron in last-ditch bid to halt EU vote battering
6 hours ago -
Ukraine moves to bring military-aged men home to fight
7 hours ago
-
Asia hit hardest by climate change, extreme weather: UN weather agency
8 hours ago -
Muscles and masterpieces: Louvre offers Olympic sport sessions
8 hours ago -
Migrant boat capsizes off Djibouti leaving 16 dead
8 hours ago -
UK Rwanda law sparks fear among migrants hoping to cross Channel
10 hours ago -
China issues highest-level rainstorm warning after deadly floods
10 hours ago -
UK's Sunak announces raised defence spending, new Ukraine aid
10 hours ago