While the Pentagon has yet to confirm if Russian forces are responsible for the bombing of U.S.-backed Syrian rebels, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook did note Thursday any such strikes would be a “mistake” on Russia’s part.
There are reports Russia has been targeting U.S.-backed rebels fighting Syria. Cook said the Department of Defense is aware of the reports and plans to “engage with the Russians” to address the issue.
“So that’s our concern here, that they’re — if this indeed was a Russian airstrike, that they’re targeting forces that are trying to get rid of ISIL [Islamic State] and we think that would be a mistake,” Cook told reporters during the briefing. “That would be our concern and that’s why we would share that with the Russians.”
Cook noted any Russian bombing of U.S.-supported rebels would be “counterproductive” to the fight against ISIS, a goal which both the U.S. and Russia share.
An unnamed senior Department of Defense official confirmed to Reuters Friday that Russia was indeed responsible for the strikes on the U.S.-backed rebels.
“We will seek an explanation from Russia on why it took this action and assurances this will not happen again,” said the official.
Kremlin officials have not necessarily denied that Russia is responsible for the attacks. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov blamed the so-called “mingling” of moderate rebels and terrorists such as Nusra Front as the reason why U.S.-backed rebels may have been hit.
Russia has been accused of engaging in indiscriminate bombing since it first intervened in Syria in September of last year. Russian forces are believed to be responsible for an attack on a hospital and several other civilian buildings in the Syrian city of Idlib in May which killed over 250.
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