Syria regime claims anti-IS forces targeted by 'US aircraft'
Syria regime claims anti-IS forces targeted by 'US aircraft'
A military base close to Syria's border with Iraq was hit by airstrikes overnight, the Assad regime has claimed, but the US have denied aircraft operated in the area.
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Syrian regime forces are waging a war against IS in Deir az-Zor [AFP]
A Syrian regime military base close to the Iraqi border was struck by missiles early Thursday morning, causing "material damage" and possible casualties, state media said.
The strikes targeted a base in southeastern Deir az-Zor - between al-Bukamal and Hmeimeh in the Badia desert region - at around dawn time, with Syrian state media blaming US-led coalition aircraft for the attack.
"Some of our military positions between al-Bukamal and Hmeimeh were hit this morning in an aggression by 'American coalition' warplanes," SANA reported.
The strikes caused only "material damage", the agency added.
The US have denied responsibility for the strikes, saying it did not have aircraft operating in the area at the time.
"We have no operational reporting of a US-led coalition strike against pro-Syrian regime targets or forces," Captain Bill Urban, US Central Command spokesperson, told Reuters.
A Syrian monitor said that 12 "non-Syrian" fighters were killed in "two waves" of missile strikes on Thursday in the area.
"At least three vehicles were destroyed by the strike," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
A Syrian regime source denied foreign fighters were killed in the attack.
"There are no Iranian or Lebanese fighters among the dead," the source told AFP.
The area is part of the frontlines between the Syrian regime and Islamic State group, where Iranian-backed militia fighters are taking part in the campaign against the jihadis.
A separate US-led offensive against IS further north has seen the regime and mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces clash over control for territory in the oil and gas-rich region.
Further south, the US operates a base which has been the focus of anti-IS operations in the Syria Desert region, with Iranian militias targeted in strikes as they approached al-Tanf.
Clashes between Syrian regime forces and IS are continuing in the Badia region, with IS launching a surprise assault on government fighters earlier this week, killing around 30.
Agencies contributed to this story.
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