The incident prompted a harsh response from Russia, Assad's chief global ally, which threatened to cut channels with the us created to prevent their air forces from inadvertently targeting one another.
In Tuesday's incident, the US -led coalition said an F-15E Strike Eagle jet destroyed an armed Shahed-129 drone in the early hours of the morning as it neared the al-Tanaf base along Syria's eastern border. "The Coalition does not seek to fight Syrian regime, Russian, or pro-regime forces partnered with them, but will not hesitate to defend Coalition or partner forces from any threat".
Bassam Abu Abdullah, a professor of International Relations at Damascus University, said the advances by pro-Assad troops undermined US plans in the area to sever a land corridor linking the capitals of Syria, Iraq, Iran and Lebanon.
It was the second time this month that the USA has shot down an armed drone in the vicinity of the camp at Tanf.
The U.S. military has confirmed it killed a top Islamic State cleric in an airstrike.
While the US -led coalition is not technically at war with the Syrian regime - despite President Donald Trump's Tomahawk missile strike against a military airbase in April in response to the regime's use of chemical weapons - clashes between coalition forces and militias loyal to Assad have become frequent enough that the Syrian Civil War is on the verge of entering a new phase that could pit world powers against each other in a direct confrontation.
The Guard has described the missile strike as revenge for attacks on Tehran earlier this month that killed at least 18 people and wounded more than 50, the first such IS assault in the country. It says targets included terror headquarters and a auto bomb-making facility. A Syrian military offensive has unfolded on several fronts, coupled with Russian airstrikes and a show of force by Iran, which fired ballistic missiles on an IS stronghold this week and pushed militias that it sponsors deeper into the battlefield.
Twins select high school SS Royce Lewis for 1st pick in draft
SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) - Hunter Greene was selected by Cincinnati as a pitcher, while Brendan McKay's bat attracted Tampa Bay. The San Diego Padres took left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore of Whiteville (N.C.) High School with the third pick.
The Pentagon vowed to continue all its anti-ISIS operations in Syria after Russia's warning. "I'm also confident that our forces have the capability to take care of themselves".
Sharif says the missile launch reflects Iran's "military power" though Iran has no intention of starting another war.
Department of Defense spokesperson Maj. The coalition "has made it clear to all parties publicly and through the deconfliction line with Russian forces that the demonstrated hostile intent and actions of pro-regime forces toward coalition and partner forces in Syria conducting legitimate counter-ISIS operations will not be tolerated".
Australia defence ministry said in a statement the suspension was "a precautionary measure to allow the coalition to assess the operational risk".
Russia's deputy foreign affairs minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said the United States strike "has to be seen as a continuation of America's line to disregard the norms of global law".
These battles are critical for Syria's future, Abdullah said, noting they will force the U.S.to negotiate with the Assad government. USA -backed forces have encircled the city of Raqqa and captured several districts from the militants.
Still, the operation in Raqqa sparked tension with the Syrian army, whose troops were advancing in the southern and western countryside of Raqqa.
Comments