BEIRUT — The Syrian military said the U.S.-led coalition attacked one of its artillery positions in the country’s east, wounding two soldiers and destroying a cannon, according to state media reports on Sunday. The spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition Col. Sean Ryan said their partner forces acted in “self-defense” after coming under fire from the western side of the Euphrates River. U.S.-led coalition forces, with their local Kurdish-led partners, are battling the remnants of Islamic State group on the eastern banks of the Euphrates, while government troops and allied forces are now positioned on the other side after dislodging IS from there. Since the U.S. announced in December that it’s withdrawing troops from Syria, Syrian government troops have beefed up their presence on the western banks of Euphrates. The U.S.-led coalition and local Kurdish-led partners have been battling IS militants on the eastern banks of the river since September.

Source: Washington Post February 03, 2019 13:07 UTC