Syria says rare US strike an effort 'to support terrorism'
Thomas F. Veale
In an email Thursday to  The Associated Press  Col. Thomas F. Veale  said the coalition reported to the Russians the buildup of the pro-government forces in the area before the attack  and communicated with them during and after it. The Russian officials offered assurances that they would not engage the coalition forces in the area   Veale  said.
âPro-regime forces initiated hostilities with artillery pieces (howitzers). Additionally  Syrian pro-regime forces maneuvered T-55 and T-72 main battle tanks with supporting mortar fire in what appears to be a coordinated attack on Syrian Democratic Forces approximately 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of the Euphrates River de-confliction line in Khusham  Syria â  Veale  said.
Asked if Russia was responsible for not stopping the attack   Veale  said: âThe de-confliction effort has served its purpose. Just as the coalition does not direct the operations of the SDF  the Russians do not direct operations of the Syrian regime.â
 Veale  said  they  suspect the Syrian pro-government forces were trying to seize terrain from the U.S.-backed forces liberated from IS militants last year  including major oil fields in the area.
In an email Thursday to   [TGT] said the coalition reported to the Russians the buildup of the pro-government forces in the area before the attack  and communicated with them during and after it. The Russian officials offered assurances that they would not engage the coalition forces in the area   Veale  said.
âPro-regime forces initiated hostilities with artillery pieces (howitzers). Additionally  Syrian pro-regime forces maneuvered T-55 and T-72 main battle tanks with supporting mortar fire in what appears to be a coordinated attack on Syrian Democratic Forces approximately 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of the Euphrates River de-confliction line in Khusham  Syria â   [TGT] said.
Asked if Russia was responsible for not stopping the attack   Veale  said: âThe de-confliction effort has served its purpose. Just as the coalition does not direct the operations of the SDF  the Russians do not direct operations of the Syrian regime.â
  [TGT] said  they  suspect the Syrian pro-government forces were trying to seize terrain from the U.S.-backed forces liberated from IS militants last year  including major oil fields in the area.