Russian Strike Wounds Syrian Democratic Forces Troops

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Sept. 16, 2017 — At approximately 12:30 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time today, Russian forces struck a target east of the Euphrates River in Syria near Dayr Az Zawr, causing injuries to coalition partner forces, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials announced.

Russian munitions impacted a location known to the Russians to contain Syrian Democratic Forces and coalition advisors, the officials said. Several SDF fighters were wounded and received medical care as a result of the strike.

Multinational coalition troops advising and assisting the SDF were present but were not wounded as a result of the Russian strike.

"Coalition officials are available and the deconfliction line with Russia is open 24 hours per day,” said Army Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, the coalition commander. "We put our full efforts into preventing unnecessary escalation among forces that share ISIS as our common enemy."

Coalition officials said the coalition and its partners remain committed to the defeat of of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and to continued deconfliction with Russian officials. Coalition forces and partners always retain the right of self-defense, officials noted.