Moscow Warns US, Declares: 85% of Deir Ez-Zor Liberated

Local Editor

Russia warned the United States of reprisals Thursday after artillery fire from an area controlled by US-backed fighters in eastern Syria targeted government troops.

A military spokesman in Moscow blamed Syrian Democratic Forces and said future attacks would be repelled.

"Syrian regime forces were twice targeted with massive fire from mortar launchers and rocket artillery from areas east of the Euphrates River where SDF forces and US Special Forces are," Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

He further said: "A representative of US command in Al Udeid, Qatar, was notified in severe form that attempts to attack from districts where SDF fighters are located will be repelled."

"Fire positions in these areas will be immediately suppressed with all available weapons," he said.

Konashenkov said regime forces control 85 percent of Deir ez-Zor. "The city will be liberated in the coming week," he said.

On Monday, Syrian government troops crossed the Euphrates River, sealing off the city on three sides.

This comes as the US-led coalition and the SDF accused Russian warplanes of bombing SDF fighters east of the river on Saturday, an allegation that Moscow denied.

Konashenkov said Syrian regime forces have continued the offensive on the eastern side of the Euphrates over the past day, "freeing 16 square kilometers and two villages from terrorists."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team