Russian and US patrols in tense confrontation in Syria
- Moscow accused the US military of trying to hinder a Russian patrol in Syria
- Washington said the incident violated safety protocols agreed with Moscow
Russia on Thursday blamed the United States for a tense confrontation in Syria in which Russian military vehicles and helicopters surrounded US armoured vehicles, leaving US troops injured.
The White House National Security Council (NSC) said in a statement that a Russian vehicle struck a US mine-resistant all-terrain vehicle, “causing injuries to the vehicle’s crew”.
Russia’s defence ministry released a statement saying that it had warned the Defeat-Isis Coalition in advance that a column of its military police would pass through.
“In spite of this, in breach of the existing agreements the US troops attempted to block the Russian patrol” it said, adding that Russian military police took “necessary measures” to end the incident and carry on their mission.
The chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, gave “full explanations” in a phone call with General Mark Milley, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Moscow said.
Videos shared on Twitter, apparently filmed by bystanders and the Russians themselves, appear to show Russian troop carriers and attack helicopters trying to box the US vehicles in and then force them from the area, near Dayrick.