WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — A representative of the Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve's (CJTF-OIR) press service told Sputnik on Saturday that there still were some dispersed bands of gunmen in the Euphrates Valley.
"Our carefully considered military assessment is that Daesh is still present on both sides of the Euphrates River, and therefore Coalition surgical strikes continue on the East Bank of the Middle Euphrates River Valley in support of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). We know that Russian and Syrian Regime aircraft are continuing their strikes on the West Bank of the Euphrates River between the towns of Mayadin and Albu Kamal [Al Bukamal], so it is likely that [Daesh] has yet to be cleared from that area," the CJTF-OIR press service said on Saturday.
The US-led coalition reaffirmed its commitment to the joint work with the Kurdish-led SDF.
"The Coalition continues to work with the SDF to ensure that previously liberated areas are cleared for the return of civilians. We are also working with the Syrian Democratic Council to create the space necessary to form a truly democratic and representative government in Syria through the UN-backed peace talks," the CJTF-OIR added.
The US Department of Defense disagrees with the Russian Defense Ministry's assessment of US aircraft actions in the Euphrates Valley as attempts to prevent the destruction of terrorists, representative of the Pentagon told Sputnik on Saturday.
"The US led coalition, not the Russian Federation or Syrian Regime, is the only force that has made meaningful progress against [Daesh]. Those claims are incorrect," the department representative said.
The Russian Defense Ministry statement earlier on Saturday came in response to statements by Pentagon representatives to US media, in which the US Defense Department said that Russian aircraft were deliberately flying too close to US aircraft in Syria.
The US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against Daesh in Syria and Iraq since 2014. The strikes in Syria are not authorized by the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
Russia has been carrying out strikes against terrorists in Syria at the official request of Damascus.
Russia Delivers Over 5 Tonnes of Aid to Syrian Provinces of Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor
Meantime, Russian servicemen delivered over five tonnes of humanitarian aid to residents of the Syrian provinces of Deir ez-Zor and Aleppo over the last 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Syrian Reconciliation said.
"The Russian Center for Reconciliation held three humanitarian actions in the provinces of Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor. Citizens of Serbes, Khanasir and Khatlah received 5.1 tons of food and medical supplies," head of the reconciliation center Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko said on Saturday.
"The Russian Center for Reconciliation continues working at the sessions of National Reconciliation Committees. As a result, it was decided to carry out a humanitarian action in the Eastern Ghouta de-escalation zone (No. 3). Citizens of Bokkey and al-Tell, Damascus province will receive medical aid," Kuralenko said.
Within last 24 hours, 29 people returned home in the province of Aleppo and 28 more – in the province of Homs.
"As a result of cooperation of the Russian Center for Reconciliation and National Reconciliation Committee for the Idlib de-escalation zone (No.1) a ceasefire agreement has been signed with representatives of Burj Izzawi, Aleppo province," Kuralenko said.
Russia is actively involved in solving the Syrian conflict by engaging in a military operation against terrorist organizations, serving as a mediator in the Astana reconciliation talks and guarantor of the Syrian ceasefire, providing civilians tons of humanitarian aid.
Syria has been engulfed in a civil war since 2011, as government troops fight a number of opposition groups, as well as terror organizations including Daesh.
