US military helicopters reportedly evacuated several Daesh (ISIS/ISIL)* commanders from the al-Hasakah province, Syria's SANA news agency has reported on April 10, citing local sources.
The media outlet specified that the Americans conducted yet another operation rescuing three Daesh commanders of Iraqi origin along with their family members from Tal al-Shayer region 20 kilometers southeast of the Syrian city of al-Shadadi in Hasakah. The evacuees were transferred to an unknown location.
It was also reported that in the course of the evacuation, US troops organized a staged clash on the ground that resulted in the death of one civilian while several others were injured.
In December 2017 the media outlet revealed that a number of Daesh militants had been evacuated from several locations across the Deir ez-Zor province to the al-Hasakah region, under the control of Syrian Kurdish and US forces.
Over the past several months, the Syrian government has repeatedly voiced its concerns over US efforts aimed at providing support to extremist groups on the ground in Syria.
The first signs of the alleged assistance emerged in September 2017, when a diplomatic source told Sputnik that US Air Force helicopters had transferred Daesh field commanders from Deir ez-Zor to northern Syria in late August amid the successful advance of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).
The recent SANA report comes a day after US President Donald Trump announced that he would make a decision about the US response to the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Syrian town of Douma, Eastern Ghouta, within the next 24 to 48 hours. The Trump administration also signaled that it did not rule out a military option against Damascus.
Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 11 апреля 2018 г.
On April 7 a number of media outlets pinned the blame on the Syrian government forces for a purported chemical attack Douma, citing sources among jihadi militants. In response, Trump threatened Damascus, saying that it would pay a big price and accused Russia and Iran of backing the Syrian government.
Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 8 апреля 2018 г.
….to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 8 апреля 2018 г.
Russia resolutely denied the allegations and warned the parties involved that "that military intervention under far-fetched and fabricated pretexts in Syria… is absolutely unacceptable and might lead to very severe consequences." Moscow referred to the fact that the Russian Defense Ministry had repeatedly informed about the possibility of staged provocations in the region with the use of poisonous substances.
*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/Islamic State) is a terrorist group banned in Russia.
