Russia’s aerospace force wipes out US-trained militants in Syria: Moscow

The Russian Defense Ministry says it has eliminated a group of US-backed militants in Syria as they were hiding in shelters in the country's Badia deserts near the Iraqi border, from where they carried out sabotage attacks against the civilian population and civilian infrastructure in the Arab country.

“On the 4th of August, after investigation operations, the Russian fighters eliminated a terrorist group of the so-called Shuhada’ al-Qaryatayn Brigade that were hiding in prepared dens in the Syrian al-Badia desert," the Ministry said in a statement quoted by Syria's official news agency SANA on Friday.

The Ministry added that the terrorist group was positioned in al-Tanf area, which is occupied by the US occupation forces, and they were trained there by the occupation forces which supplied them with weapons.

The Russian Defense Ministry stressed that the terror outfit committed terrorist killings in the Badia region against the civilians.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the United States, the Israeli regime, and their Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are spreading insecurity in the country.

The US military has stationed forces and equipment in eastern and northeastern Syria, with the Pentagon claiming that the deployment is aimed at preventing the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists.

Damascus, however, says the unlawful deployment is meant to plunder the country’s resources.

Former US president Donald Trump admitted on several occasions that American forces were in Syria for its oil.

After failing to oust the Syrian government with the help of its proxies and direct involvement in the conflict, the US government has now stepped up its economic war on the Arab country.

Late last month, a US military base in Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah was hit by a series of heavy explosions.

Russia’s state-run Sputnik news agency, citing local sources, reported on July 27 that sounds of several loud blasts had been heard in the northern and western suburbs of the oil-rich town of al-Shaddadi, where one of the largest American bases in Hasakah Province is located.

Helicopters belonging to American forces flew over the skies of the area as the explosions took place, while US troops fired a flare gun into the air, Sputnik said.

The Russian news agency further said that there were reports of a rocket attack on the American base, adding that two US military convoys, carrying military equipment and armored vehicles, had been sent to the base prior to the attack.

The US base in al-Shaddadi was also targeted with two missiles several months ago.

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