Russia says forces targeted ISIS, not US-backed fighters in Syria

Russia on Sunday said its planes did not target U.S.-backed militias in Syria amid reports Moscow knowingly fired on a rebel group.

A spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry noted that its planes were aiming toward Islamic State militants, Reuters reported.

“To avoid unnecessary escalation, the commanders of Russian forces in Syria used an existing communications channel to inform our American partners in good time about the borders of our military operation in Deir al-Zor,” Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

{mosads}“In the last few days, Russian surveillance and reconnaissance did not detect a single clash between Islamic State and armed representatives of any ‘third force’ on the eastern bank of the Euphrates.”

The comments come after six fighters on the Syrian Democratic Forces — fighting with the U.S.-led coalition — were wounded in an airstrike.

Franz Klintsevich, a member of the upper house of parliament’s security committee, also rejected the idea.