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Doubt cast on Syrian air raid reports after US and Russia deny them

SYRIAN sources said today that 12 pro-government fighters, all apparently foreign nationals, were killed in air raids by the US-led coalition — but Russia and the Pentagon appeared to cast doubt on the claim.

The casualty figure was provided by the Coventry-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies for information mainly on rebel sources within the country.

State news agency Sana backed up the bombing story by reporting that coalition aircraft had attacked military positions in Deir el-Zour province, though it did not mention casualties.

However, the US Defence Department said it had “no information” on the raids, while a Russian military source said the reports were “not consistent with reality.”

Iran’s Fars News agency also reported that the Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-allied army with a strong Kurdish element, had attacked villages around Raqqa for raising the Syrian flag, but these reports could not be confirmed either.

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