Russia warned the US military earlier this week that it would carry out air strikes against local US-allied fighters in southeastern Syria, according to two US defense officials.
Thus, the US quickly alerted the fighters to change their positions and also ensured that no US forces were nearby. US forces did not need to move as they were far enough away, but local soldiers did, officials told CNN .
Russian air strikes appear highly calculated amid heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow over the Ukraine war. The Pentagon is trying to ensure that relations do not deteriorate with Russian forces, including in Syria, where the two sides have operated in close proximity to each other for several years.
The initial assessment is that Russian forces were likely ordered to notify the US in advance and carry out the air strikes knowing they would not hit US troops and that allies would be alerted, officials said.
But the Russians have likely achieved their goal of “sending a message” to the US that they can strike without worrying about retaliation, one official said.
Russia’s notification came through the old bilateral hotline that has been operating for several years, where each side notifies the other about military operations and movements that risk a miscalculation if one side is not aware of the other’s activities. The US view is that the Russians were downplaying the risk of a crisis.
The incident took place near the Al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria, where US and Syrian opposition forces have long operated. The attacks were conducted against positions where Maghawir al-Thawra fighters were operating. There were no immediate reports of casualties, but the property is believed to have been damaged.
US officials said Russia claimed the group had carried out a roadside bomb attack against Russian forces. The US believes this did not happen and the Russians simply used this as a reason to carry out air strikes.
This kind of Russian provocation is rare, but not unheard of.
In February 2018, an encounter quickly escalated and turned deadly when a 500-man force made up largely of Russian mercenaries and a Christian militia loyal to the Syrian regime crossed the Euphrates River near Deir Ezzor.
The Russians were working for a paramilitary company called Wagner, which had hundreds of mercenaries on the ground in Syria, helping the Russian military and pro-regime forces.
The operation’s mission remains unclear, but forces were advancing towards a valuable oil and gas field, Coneco, controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-backed militia fighting ISIS in Syria.
When pro-regime forces began bombing a base held by the Syrian Democratic Forces, the US responded with heavy air strikes and artillery fire, which continued for about three hours. US commanders tried to contact their Russian counterparts to alert them to their response. But when communications were established, the counterattack was already underway.
And in August 2020, several US troops were injured in a collision with a Russian military convoy in eastern Syria.
Source: CNN Brasil
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