U.S.-Backed Syria Militia Says Russia Hit Forces at Gas Plant

The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces militia on Monday accused Russia of bombing its fighters at a gas facility it captured two days ago from the Islamic State group in eastern Syria.

"Russian air strikes and mortar fire hit the Conoco gas plant where a large number of our forces are stationed, and the preliminary toll is at least six wounded," SDF spokeswoman Lilwa Abdallah told AFP.

She said Syrian regime forces carried out additional bombardment of SDF positions after the initial Russian bombing.

"We reserve the right to respond," added Abdallah.

The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, captured the Conoco plant in Syria's Deir Ezzor province on Saturday.

The militia is fighting a campaign against IS on the eastern side of the Euphrates river that cuts diagonally across Deir Ezzor, a resource-rich province that borders Iraq.

Syria's regime, backed by its ally Russia, is carrying out its own campaign against IS in Deir Ezzor, largely on the western side of the Euphrates, including in the provincial capital Deir Ezzor city.

A "de-confliction" line is supposed to prevent the two campaigns from clashing, but Monday's alleged bombardment is the second time the SDF has accused Russia and the regime of hitting its fighters.

On September 16, the group said six of its fighters were wounded in air strikes by regime and Russian warplanes in the Al-Sinaaiya area around seven kilometers from the eastern bank of the Euphrates.