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1st LD: U.S.-led airstrikes kill over 30 Syrian soldiers in Deir al-Zour

Xinhua, September 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

More than 30 Syrian soldiers were killed on Saturday evening by the airstrikes of the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition against Syrian military positions in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, a monitor group reported.

The airstrikes targeted the artillery and rockets battalion in the al-Tharda Mountain, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UK-based watchdog group said the Syrian soldiers abandoned their positions following the strikes, which facilitated an attack by the Islamic State (IS) group.

The IS captured the positions, prompting the Syrian army to send reinforcements to the al-Tharda Mountain, located just 10 kilometers from the city of Deir al-Zour.

Local Syrian media said the Syrian air force then struck the IS positions in al-Tharda.

The general-command of the Syrian army accused the U.S. of supporting the IS in the attack in Deir al-Zour.

Some Russian reports placed the death toll of the slain Syrian soldiers at over 60.

Meanwhile, Syria's al-Ekhbarya TV said the Syrian air force was planning an operation on the IS-held areas that would help retaking Deir al-Zour city, where 50,000 civilians have been besieged by the IS since 2014.

The plan aimed at opening a road between Deir al-Zour and Palmyra in central Syria, but the U.S.-led airstrikes thwarted the plan and enabled the IS to advance.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the U.S.-led air raids enabled the IS of capturing al-Tharda Mountain.

The incident marks the first U.S.-led attack on a government forces' positions since the coalition started striking IS positions in Syria in late 2014. Endit