Syria says US-led strike hits troops in east, US denies

BEIRUT - The Associated Press

Syrian state TV is reporting that the U.S.-led coalition has struck a military position in the country’s east, leaving several troops dead and wounded, allegations denied by a U.S. official.

The report early June 18 says the airstrike occurred around midnight in the village of al-Hari near the town of Boukamal. It gave no breakdown of the casualties.

Col. Sean Ryan, a spokesman for the coalition, said it was aware of the reports but had not carried out any strikes in the area.

Syrian troops and their allies have been conducting operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) west of the Euphrates river while the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are on the offensive against ISIL on the east banks.

ISIL still holds small areas in eastern Syria close to the Iraqi border.