Pentagon Dismisses Syria's 'Ludicrous' Allegations of Coordination With Daesh

The US Department of Defense on Tuesday dismissed "ludicrous" Syrian allegations of US coordinating with Daesh terrorist group when striking Syrian government forces near Deir ez-Zor earlier this month.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Monday, Syrian parliament speaker Khadiya Abbas said Damascus has evidence of US troops communicating with IS fighters and directing them toward Syrian government troops after carrying out the airstrike.

"The allegations are ludicrous and categorically false," Pentagon Spokesmen Adrian Rankine-Galloway told RIA Novosti.

US warplanes hit Syrian government troops near the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor on September 17, leaving 62 military personnel killed and a hundred wounded. The Pentagon said that the airstrike was a mistake and was supposed to target IS militants.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups, including IS, which is outlawed in Russia, the United States and many other countries worldwide.

The US-led coalition of more than 60 nations has been conducting airstrikes against the IS since 2014. However, the coalition is acting without the permission of the country’s legitimate government or the UN Security Council.