DAMASCUS, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were targeted Saturday by an airstrike in the countryside of Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria, according to Kurdish activists.
Russia and Syrian warplanes were accused to be behind the strike that targeted the positions of the Kurdish-led SDF near the Industrial Zone, east of the Euphrates River in Deir al-Zour countryside, the source added.
The attack led to the injury of eight SDF fighters.
The SDF launched a military campaign against the Islamic State (IS) in the northern and eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour province, where the Russian-backed Syrian army is also making strides against the terror-designated group.
Ten days ago, the army broke the IS siege on the capital city of Deir al-Zour, advancing in that key oil-rich area to besiege IS and force its militants to flee.
The SDF and the Syrian army are fighting IS separately, and even though they haven't come to clash with one another, both don't seem on the same page.
The SDF is clearly reflecting the interests of the United States, as the group mounted an offensive on Deir al-Zour to prevent the Syrian army from reaching the eastern bank of Euphrates River, which is deemed by the United States as a redline the Syrian forces shouldn't cross.
