Washington (May 19, 2017): United States-led coalition aircraft on Thursday targeted pro-Asad forces that were advancing inside a de-confliction zone.
Operation Inherent Resolve, the official name for the coalition fighting ISIS, said in a statement that the pro-regime militias posed a threat to US and partner forces at At Tanf, a remote base in southern Syria.
US official said that the wo US aircraft were dispatched as a “show of force” to get the Syrian vehicles to turn around.
A second US defense official said an airstrike hit the convoy after the vehicles continued toward the base, striking an enemy tank and bulldozer, or front loader-type vehicle.
The airstrikes were considered to be carried out in “self-defense” given the militias’ proximity to a base used by elite US and coalition troops.
A convoy of 20 pro-regime vehicles were headed toward At Tanf Wednesday night, searching vehicles and buildings along the way, according to a US official. Thirteen of the vehicles breached the “de-confliction zone” around the base that is the area that the coalition has communicated to the Russians and their regime alliesto stay away from.
The official said five of the vehicles came within 29 kilometers of the base at about midnight EST Thursday when the aircraft were dispatched.
