More than 100 Russian soldiers fighting on behalf of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad were killed in a failed attack on a base held by US and Kurdish forces, according to Russian officials.
US military spokesman Colonel Ryan S. Dillon said: “Coalition officials were in regular communication with Russian counterparts before, during and after the thwarted, unprovoked attack.
“Russian officials assured coalition officials they would not engage coalition forces in the vicinity.”
He said the death toll from the fighting remains unclear but added the military was not aware of any direct US strikes on Russian forces.
On Saturday, US forces destroyed a Russian-made T-72 tank in the same region after pro-Assad forces opened fire on US special ops and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Colonel Dillon confirmed the news, adding: “The tank had been maneuvering with coordinated indirect fire on a defensive position occupied by Syrian Democratic Forces and coalition advisers.
“The defensive position was within effective range of the hostile weapons systems. Coalition officials maintained regular contact with Russian counterparts via established deconfliction lines to avoid misperceptions and miscalculations that could endanger each other’s forces.”
US forces have been fighting alongside the SDF for years while Russia has been training and equipping pro-Assad forces in the region.
Russia’s military says it had nothing to do with the attack – a claim accepted by the US.