US hits Assad-backed fighters near training base in Syria

The U.S.-back coalition on Tuesday destroyed equipment belonging to pro-Syrian government fighters after they moved into a de-confliction zone that holds a U.S. training base in southern Syria.

“Despite previous warnings, pro-regime forces entered the agreed-upon de-confliction zone with a tank, artillery, anti-aircraft weapons, armed technical vehicles and more than 60 soldiers posing a threat to Coalition and partner forces based at the At Tanf Garrison,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

The coalition issued several warnings via a de-confliction line before it destroyed two artillery pieces and an anti-aircraft weapon and damaged a tank, CENTCOM said.

{mosads}“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 reads.

“The Coalition calls on all parties in southern Syria to focus their efforts on the defeat of ISIS, which is our common enemy and the greatest threat to regional and worldwide peace and security.”

This is the second time the coalition has struck fighters loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad in an established protected zone where the coalition is training allied rebels to fight ISIS.

The United States in May bombed militias aligned with Assad in At Tanf, the site of the U.S. training camp, after the forces advanced into the zone.

Pentagon officials also last month said the U.S.-led coalition dropped leaflets telling the fighters to leave the area.