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Tuesday, June 27, 2017, 23:07
Syrian observatory: Dozens killed in US-led airstrike
By Agencies
Tuesday, June 27, 2017, 23:07 By Agencies

In this May 18, 2017 file photo, a Syrian National flag hangs out of a damaged building at the mountain resort town of Zabadani in the Damascus countryside, Syria. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

DAMASCUS – At least 57 inmates and guards were killed when a US-led airstrike targeted a prison under the control of Islamic State group in eastern Syria, a monitor group reported on Tuesday.  

The airstrike targeted the prison in the city of Mayadeen in the countryside of Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour on Monday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It added that the prison used to be a house for one of the leaders of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, which was captured by IS and turned into a prison, half of it for IS militants imprisoned by the group itself, while the other half is for civilians captured by IS.

The death toll could likely rise as there are many critically wounded people, the UK-based watchdog group added.

Around 100 inmates are imprisoned in that prison, said the Observatory.

This photo taken from the Russian Defense Ministry official web site on June 16, 2017 claims to show an aerial image at left of the Islamic State headquarters on May 13, 2017, and an aerial image taken on May 29, right, showing the same site following the Russian airstrike on May 28, 2017 on the outskirts of Raqqa, Syria. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service Photo via AP)

The US-led coalition has been active recently in striking IS positions in Raqqa and Deir al-Zour, as part of its resolve to support the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) group in their push to dislodge IS out of Raqqa and parts of Deir al-Zour.

SYRIA DENIES US ALLEGATIONS OF CHEMICAL ATTACK

The involvement of external powers in the Syrian war continued to accelerate Tuesday as President Bashar Assad's government and Russia dismissed White House allegations that it was preparing a new chemical weapons attack.

Ali Haidar, the Syrian minister for national reconciliation, dismissed a White House statement that warned Assad's government against carrying out another chemical attack. Haidar told The Associated Press the charges foreshadowed a new diplomatic campaign against Syria at the UN.

The Kremlin also dismissed the White House statement, which had warned that Assad and his military would "pay a heavy price" if it goes ahead with the attack. Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "such threats to Syria's legitimate leaders are unacceptable."

The statement by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the US had "identified potential preparations for another chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime that would likely result in the mass murder of civilians, including innocent children."

He said the activities were similar to preparations taken before the attack in April, but provided no evidence or further explanation.


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