US general confronts Moscow over bombed fighters in Syria: report

U.S Marine General Joseph Dunford confronted the chief of Russia’s general staff General Valery Gerasimov over a phone call on Sunday after the Pentagon accused Moscow of bombing U.S. backed militias in Syria, according to Reuters.

The call came after the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said Russian jets and Syrian government forces attacked them in Deir al-Zor province.

{mosads}A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman pushed back on the accusation, claiming the planes were aiming toward Islamic State militants, according to Reuters.

“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.

“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.”

Six SDF fighters were wounded in the strike.