US accused of firing white phosphorus munitions in Syria

Syria on Saturday accused the US-led coalition of firing white phosphorus munitions on an Islamic State (IS) held area in the country, the media reported.

The shelling targeted the farmlands of the town of Baghouz, the last IS-held area in the eastern Euphrates River region in eastern Deir al-Zour province, Xinhua news agency reported citing state news agency SANA.

There were no details given about the losses.

A day earlier, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces started the last push against remnants of IS militants in the Baghouz area, SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said.

After securing the evacuation of civilians and kidnapped SDF fighters, the SDF launched the final push against the IS-held area in Baghouz. The spokesman said only terrorists were remaining in the town.

The SDF fighters had been waiting for the civilians to fully evacuate Baghouz to launch the final stage of battle to eliminate the IS completely from the few areas they control in farmlands of the town, the report said.

The US-led coalition has been backing the SDF in their push against the IS in that area since September 2018.

The Syrian government has repeatedly accused the US-led coalition of targeting civilians in their fight against the IS, calling on the international community to dissolve the alliance in Syria.

--IANS

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