US military: “Despite previous warnings, pro-regime forces entered the agreed-upon de-confliction zone”

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The US has launched its second airstrike on pro-Assad forces in eastern Syria, maintaining an exclusion zone around a rebel base on the Iraqi border.

Manned American warplanes hit the fighters, including Iranian-supported Iraqi militia, in the desert around the 55-km (34-mile) zone near the base at Tanf. The first strike was on May 18 against regime units and Hezbollah and Iraqi militia.

“Despite previous warnings, pro-regime forces entered the agreed-upon de-confliction zone with a tank, artillery, anti-aircraft weapons, armed technical vehicles and more than 60 soldiers,” the US military said on Tuesday. It said two artillery pieces and an anti-aircraft weapon were destroyed and the tank was damaged.

A regime military official said the strikes had caused casualties and damage. He said that the attacks were “in support of terrorism” and that the military had warned against escalation.

The US statement again emphasized that the strikes were not in support of any Free Syrian Army offensive to push back the pro-Assad forces, who have been advancing through the Badia region in the past month: “The Coalition does not seek to fight Syrian regime or pro-regime forces but remains ready to defend themselves if pro-regime forces refuse to vacate the de-confliction zone.”

With Iranian-backed Iraqi militia also moving against the Islamic State in western Iraq, closing on the Syrian border, the US has become concerned that Iran could establish its first land route for arms supplies into Syria. Since the start of the conflict in 2011, Tehran has propped up the Assad regime’s military via air.

Claimed video of an airstrike:

TOP PHOTO: US and Free Syrian Army troops near the Tanf crossing on the Syria-Iraq border, May 23, 2017

Video: Regime Forces Continue Bombardment of Daraa

The regime’s military continues airstrikes, rocketing, and shelling of Daraa city in southern Syria:

Weeks of pro-Assad bombardment have tried to hold back a rebel advance inside the divided city, notably with the capture of most of the strategic Manshiyah district.

Noting the scores of missiles, barrel bombs, and rockets, the Syrian National Coalition issued a statement which “condemns the brutal escalating campaign” and called on guarantors of “de-escalation zones” — Russia, Turkey, and Iran to “shoulder their responsibilities…and ensure the violations are stopped immediately”.

Rebels are also continuing to hold off regime forces and Hezbollah fighters near Howsh al-Dawahra in the East Ghouta area near Damascus, despite a bombardment as intense as that in Daraa.

There have been at least eight waves of pro-Assad attacks in recent days.