
- The patrol, which was escorted by a unit from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), was reportedly targeted with an improvised explosive device as it was passing through al-Saada, which is located near the town of Markadah. At least one US armored vehicle was damaged as a result of the attack.
Following the attack, al-Saada was besieged by a large force from the US-led coalition and the SDF. Coalition warplanes were also spotted over the village.
Syrian sources alleged that two American service members and a commander of the SDF were killed or wounded in the attack. However, this is yet to confirmed.
- The US-led coalition has not addressed the incident, so far.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that ISIS cells were behind the daring attack. However, the terrorist group is yet to official claim responsibility.
ISIS kicked off a military campaign in the Levant and several other regions across the world early on in April to avenge its former leader and spokesman who died during a US raid in Syria’s northwestern region in February.
The group called the campaign “The Battle of Revenge for the Killing of the Two Sheikhs”.
According to the SOHR, at least 11 fighters and commanders of the SDF have been killed by ISIS cells since the beginning of the revenge campaign.
- If al-Saada attack indeed resulted in American casualties, this would be the second time the US-led coalition sustained losses this year.
In the first week of April, a sabotage attack inside a key coalition base in northeastern Syria wounded four American service members.
Source: SOUTHFRONT