MOSCOW \u2014 Russia’s defence ministry on Sunday denied bombing US-backed rebels in southern Syria earlier this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a video conference with Russian military officials, the Pentagon said Saturday that it had expressed “strong concerns about the attack on the coalition-supported counter-ISIL forces at the Al-Tanaf garrison.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hours later Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov denied that Russia had bombed areas where US-backed rebels are operating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The target that was bombed was located more than 300 kilometers away from the area” indicated by the United States, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Konashenkov insisted that the Russian air force had acted “within the framework of the agreed procedures” and had given advance warning of its ground targets to the US-led coalition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russia’s defence ministry said late Thursday that it had not carried out strikes against opposition forces included in the ceasefire but did not mention Al-Tanaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pentagon voiced its concerns as Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu paid a surprise visit to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus to discuss military cooperation “to fight against terrorist organizations on Syrian soil.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Konashenkov on Sunday also accused the United States of not providing the coordinates of the areas where the US-backed rebels are active, “not allowing for precision in the operations of the Russian air force.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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