Syrian, Russian aviation don't strike opposition sites in coordinates provided by U.S. military - Russian Defense Ministry
MOSCOW. March 1 (Interfax) - Neither Syrian, nor Russian combat aircraft have delivered strikes in coordinates that the U.S. military designated as the area of activities of pro-U.S. opposition forces, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday night.
"Neither Syrian, nor Russian aviation delivered strikes against areas designated by the U.S. side," the ministry said commenting on reports that Russian aviation delivered a strike on pro-U.S. opposition forces.
A representative of the command of the Russian Aerospace Forces' group in Syria's Hmeimim airbase had a contact with his U.S. colleague from the Al Udeid airbase in Qatar on February 28, the ministry said.
"The representative of the U.S. Air Force expressed concern that Syrian and Russian aircraft may deliver an accidental strike on armed units controlled by the United States when accomplishing combat tasks southwards the city of Manbij," it said.
"In order to avoid any incident the U.S. representative told the Russian officer exact coordinates of 'opposition forces' militants in this area. The Russian command took notice of the information," the ministry said.
"Efficient interaction of the Russian Aerospace Forces command at the Hmeimim airbase and the U.S. Air Force as part of combating ISIL terrorists in Syria will continue in future," the ministry said.
Western media reported earlier on Wednesday citing Lieut. Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve that the Russian Aerospace Forces had accidentally delivered a strike against opposition group supported by the U.S.
ISIL is a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia.