U.S. warplanes bombed pro-regime Syrian forces backed by Iran in southern Syria on Tuesday, after those forces ignored repeated warnings to leave 35-mile safe zone the U.S. set up to train anti-Islamic State fighters.
A statement from U.S. Central Command said coalition planes destroyed two artillery pieces, an anti-aircraft weapon, and damaged a tank after issuing several warnings through the so-called de-confliction line with Russia.
The U.S. had also dropped leaflets in recent days, warning the forces they were inside a well-established de-confliction zone, and needed to retreat.
“The Coalition does not seek to fight Syrian regime or pro-regime forces, but remains ready to defend themselves if pro-regime forces refuse to vacate the de-confliction zone,” the statement said.
The U.S. bombed a convoy last month when it first entered the buffer zone that surrounds the At Tanf garrison, where U.S. and coalition special operations forces have been training and advising vetted Syrian partner forces engaged in the fight against the Islamic State.
The force of about 60 soldiers, along with tanks and artillery, first entered the zone near the border with Iraq in mid-May, and was judged to be a threat to the U.S. and coalition forces at the training base.
