19 September 2016 - 16:42
UK took part in strike against Syrian forces

The UK took part in a recent coalition air strike in Syria that killed dozens of government troops fighting the ISIS, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - The UK took part in a recent coalition air strike in Syria that killed dozens of government troops fighting the ISIS, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

Russia said at least 62 Syrian personnel were killed in the Deir al-Zour strikes on Saturday.

The MoD said it would "not intentionally target Syrian military units".

The US has already expressed "regret" for the "unintentional loss of life".

The British aircraft that took part in the operation was an unmanned remotely piloted Reaper drone.

An MoD spokesman said: "We can confirm that the UK participated in the recent coalition air strike in Syria, south of Deir al-Zour on Saturday and we are fully co-operating with the coalition investigation."

A Syrian army source said the air strike had allowed ISIS to gain ground in the area around the Syrian airbase, but that Syrian forces had regained most positions on the hilltop nearby with the help of Syrian and Russian air support.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denounced the air strike as a "flagrant aggression".



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