Criticism of US-led Coalition Airstrike in Southern Syria

Moscow and Damascus criticized the airstrike by the US-led coalition in southern Syria that occurred on Thursday, May 18. According to Reuters, citing Russian news agencies, Gennady Gatilov, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, stated in Geneva, Switzerland, that the airstrike by the US-led coalition against pro-government Syrian militants harmed civilians. Gatilov deemed this unacceptable, asserting that the Thursday attack violated Syria's sovereignty and did not contribute to efforts for a political resolution to the Syrian crisis. His remarks came as a Syrian military source reported to state media that the US-led coalition attacked one of the positions of the Syrian army. This source described the attack as 'shameless' and added that it contradicted the 'claims of fighting terrorism.' Reuters also quoted a Syrian military source stating that the coalition's attack targeted a military site in Syria, resulting in casualties and damage, although no further details were provided. This source also mentioned that the attack disrupted the efforts of the Syrian army and its allies to fight the Islamic State (ISIS). Previously, a US-backed rebel official in Syria stated that coalition fighter jets targeted a convoy of the Syrian army and Iranian-backed militants. This convoy was moving towards the 'Al-Tanf' base in southern Syria, where US special forces are stationed. Mazham al-Saloum, from the Maghawir al-Thawra group, told Reuters that coalition jets attacked the convoy while Syrian army forces and Iranian-backed militants were engaged with Bashar al-Assad's opposition forces 27 kilometers from the military base. Western intelligence sources informed Reuters that US and British special units have expanded the 'Al-Tanf' base to drive ISIS militants out of the eastern Deir ez-Zor province, which borders Iraq.