US-led strikes on Deir Ezzor a ‘war crime’

DAMASCUS: The Syrian government on Thursday blasted deadly US-led coalition air strikes on pro-regime forces in the country’s east as a “war crime”.

The US-led coalition said it carried out air strikes against pro-government fighters to defend its allies in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor.

In a letter addressed to the United Nations Secretary General, the foreign ministry said the attack “represents a war crime and a crime against humanity”. It accused the United States of using “the excuse of fighting terrorism to set up illegitimate bases on Syrian territory”. “The Syrian government renews its call to dissolve this illegitimate coalition,” it said. The United States said Syrian pro-government forces initiated an attack on the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).—AFP