The US-led coalition "destroyed" a unit of pro-regime forces in Syria on Tuesday as they advanced near an area where coalition commandos have been training and advising rebels, a military statement said.
A group of about 60 pro-regime soldiers moved into the area with a tank, artillery, anti-aircraft weapons and armed technical vehicles, posing a threat to the coalition forces at At-Tanf Garrison near the border with Jordan and Iraq, the coalition said in the statement.
"The coalition issued several warnings via the de-confliction line prior to destroying two artillery pieces, an anti-aircraft weapon, and damaging a tank," it said.
US and British troops are based at At-Tanf, where they train local Syrian fighters for the battle against Islamic State forces.
The coalition said the contingent was "well advanced" into the 55-kilometer (34-mile) de-confliction zone, where any intrusion is considered hostile.
"The coalition is not looking for a fight with the Syrian regime or pro-regime forces but it is ready to defend itself if pro-regime forces refuse to leave the de-confliction zone," the statement said.
It was the second time in less than a month that coalition forces have attacked pro-regime forces as they headed toward the garrison.
Coalition planes on May 18 pounded the front of a convoy that had apparently been headed toward the At-Tanf garrison, in an established "deconfliction zone" northwest of the garrison.
Iraqi forces retake area near Syrian border from IS
Iraqi forces retook an area near the Syrian border from the Islamic State group on Sunday as part of operations to expel the jihadists from strongholds in the country's north.
The Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) forces announced the "total liberation" of Al-Baaj district "with support from the air force".
"The Iraqi flag has been hoisted above its buildings," said a statement fro … read more
