The Latest: Syrian Military Says US Struck Its Base

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: AP

Syria's military says the U.S.-led coalition struck its base in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour, allowing the Islamic State group to advance in the fiercely contested area.

There was no immediate comment from Washington. If confirmed, it would be the first time the coalition has targeted Syrian government forces.

In a statement Saturday, the Syrian military says the airstrikes caused casualties and damage to equipment, and enabled an IS advance on the hill overlooking the air base.

The statement calls it a "serious and blatant attack on Syria and its military" and "firm proof of the U.S. support of Daesh and other terrorist groups." Daesh is an Arabic acronym for IS.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/latest-russia-syrian-rebels-violating-truce-42157861

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Russia says Syria situation 'worsening', blames US

Moscow (AFP) - The situation in Syria is deteriorating, the Russian military said Saturday, blaming rebels for stepping up attacks and saying the United States would be responsible if the current ceasefire broke down.

"The situation in Syria is worsening," said Russian General Vladimir Savchenko in a briefing shown on television.

"In the past 24 hours, the number of attacks have risen sharply," with 55 attacks on government positions and civilians.

He said 12 civilians had died in the attacks, including two children and a Syrian Red Crescent volunteer.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/32649809/russia-says-syria-situation-worsening-warns-us/#page1

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. The US has admitted this - at least 62 Syrian troops dead

The US-led coalition has admitted its planes carried out an attack in eastern Syria that the Russian army says killed at least 62 Syrian troops fighting IS.

The US said its planes halted the attack in Deir al-Zour when informed of the Syrian presence and would not knowingly strike them.

The strikes allowed IS jihadists to advance, the Russians said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37398721

Oh fuck.

[MisterFred]

14. The good news is that the US admitted this.

Rather than trying to cover it up. That could have hurt our international relations much more. ISIS is right next to the SAA. We missed. It happens. We don't report that sort of thing much, because we usually don't miss that badly. But friendly-fire incidents have resulted in Russians bombing their allies in Syria, the U.S. bombing coalition forces in Afghanistan - not to mention numerous civilian targets in both countries. For what it's worth, we don't miss that often (we're bombing a lot).

The SAA retook the territory lost (a hill) fairly quickly (according to them - which may or may not mean its true). We apologized. The worst that's going to come from this in the larger picture of the war is that we'll be more cautious bombing ISIS, especially in Deir El-Zour.

[jpak]

2. Didn't the US and Russia just set up a joint operation center in Switzerland

To coordinate airstrikes?

[karynnj]

3. They were going to after 7 days of the ceasefire holding and aid getting to people

They DO deconflict -- and several articles not that the strike info was relayed to the Russians. The most likely thing is that the US did think they were hitting ISIS and they did pass the information of where they were attacking to Russia -- and neither caught that it was the Syrian regime.

An unfortunate error makes most sense when both Russia and the US would not have wanted this to happen.

[NWCorona]

4. Somewhat Agreed but I would like to know what "eyes" were on the target? I'm reading that as well

That the general area was given to the Russians but that can be somewhat broad.

With the area in question being a hot zone. It could be that the Russians just assume we wouldn't hit a known instalation.

I'm gonna lean towards mistake at the moment.

[karynnj]

5. Clearly someone -- or many people -- screwed up here

Starting with whomever added it to the target list and anyone (in whatever capacity) had the ability to review it.

What I was meaning is that the US clearly would not have wanted to do anything that makes the ceasefire less likely to work. The same with Russia. Both agreed to it because they had something to gain from taking steps to a diplomatic solution.

Even trying to find someone who benefits from this screw up is very hard to do. I know there was dissension within the Obama administration, but I doubt the military would intentionally do something that harms the fire against ISIS to derail a very shaky ceasefire. Not to mention, in the very nature of what happened, the JIC would have been a good solution to make things like this less likely. As to Russia - the most they could have done was not alerted the US if they even saw the problem ahead of time.

[NWCorona]

6. Well said. I would agree that it's in both parties interest for this to work

"Even trying to find someone who benefits from this screw up is very hard to do."

And this is my only caveat. What was at that base? I know from experience that some opportunities can't be passed up. Especially when it can be blamed on the fog of war.

[Arazi]

7. No way is this a screw up. I blame the MIC who wants their war on

[McKim]

11. Good Thinking

Good Thinking. And it looks accidental like the bombings of Doctors without Borders centers in the Middle East, whoops, sorry, just a mistake.

[AngryAmish]

8. No one screwed up.

If one realizes the US policy is to create chaos in the region then this advances US interested maximally.

[daleo]

9. Maybe someone wanted a ceasefire

But didn't really want a ceasefire.

[karynnj]

10. I think the key people who worked long and hard to get a ceasefire want it

However, the Syrian rebels clearly were not happy about it, nor were the 51 dissenters in the State department - unhappy with the direction Kerry and Obama, many in the Pentagon, and all the neo cons. However, the President has the right to set his course ... and he backed the ceasefire.

The statement explains that the area bombed was where they targeted and that they thought the base was ISIS.

[jamzrockz]

12. I think they wanted

The seize fire to protect their terrorist friends Al Nusra etc in Aleppo. Its funny how they rush to the table to demand a seize fire whenever the moderate beheaders are getting their ass handed to them.

[jamzrockz]

13. Last year

the US accidentally dropped weapons into ISIS territory, now they accidentally strike the Syrian force attacking ISIS and for a year and change of "bombing" of ISIS positions, ISIS continued to expand their territory. I think with the US not invited by the Syrian govt, UN or permission from congress or he American people, I think it would be better for everyone that they stay out of the hell conflict.

No more sending TOW missiles or non combat aid to people terrorizing a country. The US has caused enough trouble in the region from Iraq to Libya to Yemen to Syria. People always asked around here "who are the good guys in the conflict?" well it is definitely not the US and the type of mercenaries they sponsor.

I wonder how much of the funds being used to fuel the war in Syria can be used to help to improve the infrastructure of this country?