US air strikes in Syria ‘kill dozens of government troops’ fighting ISIS jihadis

The US-led coalition has admitted its planes carried out an air raid in eastern Syria that reportedly killed at least 62 home troops fighting ISIS.

American military leaders say their planes halted the attacks in Deir al-Zour as soon as they were told of the Syrian presence.

The strikes allowed ISIS jihadists to make valuable ground, the Russian army said tonight.

Russia earlier claimed the current ceasefire in Syria was now in danger of collapse and the US would be to blame.

The cessation of hostilities does not include attacks by the US on ISIS or other jihadist groups.

The US Central Command statement said the coalition believed it was attacking ISIS positions and the raids.

It added they were "halted immediately when coalition officials were informed by Russian officials that it was possible the personnel and vehicles targeted were part of the Syrian military".

It said the "Combined Air Operations Centre had earlier informed Russian counterparts of the upcoming strike".

It added: "Syria is a complex situation with various military forces and militias in close proximity, but coalition forces would not intentionally strike a known Syrian military unit.

"The coalition will review this strike and the circumstances surrounding it to see if any lessons can be learned."

Russia's defence ministry earlier said that if the US air strikes did turn out to be an error, it would be because of Washington's stubborn refusal to co-ordinate military action with Moscow.

If the current ceasefire holds until Monday the US and Russia will begin co-ordinated action against the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham group and ISIS.

Russia's defence ministry quoted a statement by Syrian army general command as saying that the four coalition air strikes on Syrian troops had allowed ISIS to advance.

The Syrian statement said the air strikes were "conclusive evidence" that the US and its allies supported the jihadist group.

General Viktor Poznikhir said Russia, an ally of the Syrian government, was doing all it could to stop Syrian troops hitting back.

"If the American side does not take the necessary measures to carry out its obligations... a breakdown of the ceasefire will be on the United States," he said.

"The United States and the so-called moderate groups they control have not met a single obligation they assumed in the framework of the Geneva agreement."

"Our repeated messages to the American side are left without a response. There is doubt that the US is able to influence the moderate opposition they control."