SANA/Handout via REUTERSWASHINGTON/BEIRUT – 8 February 2018: A U.S.-led coalition and its local allies in Syria struck pro-government forces with air and artillery fire overnight to repel "an unprovoked attack" near the Euphrates, the coalition said on Thursday. The pro-government forces were "likely seeking to seize oilfields in Khusham" east of the Euphrates in Deir al-Zor province, said a U.S. official on condition of anonymity. Syrian state television reported that the coalition had caused "dozens of dead and wounded" by bombing pro-government forces. But a commander in the military alliance supporting Assad disputed the death toll, saying seven members of the pro-government forces were killed and 27 injured. U.S. TELLS SYRIA: WE'RE NOT SEEKING CONFLICTSKIRMISHESThe U.S.-led coalition was set up in 2014 to battle Islamic State fighters in both Syria and Iraq, who were largely defeated last year.

Source: Egypt Today February 08, 2018 18:45 UTC