US-led anti-IS coalition launches deadly shelling in eastern Syria

FE Team | Published: March 04, 2019 21:42:59

BAGHUZ: A member of SDF running for cover during shelling on the Islamic State group's last holdout of Baghouz on Sunday — AFP

DAMASCUS, Mar 04 (Agencies): The US-led coalition on Sunday fired white phosphorus shells on an Islamic State (IS)-held area in eastern Syria, causing deaths including women and children, state news agency SANA 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, SANA said.
This comes as the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is making its last push against IS remnants in Baghouz after the evacuation of thousands of civilians.
The US-led coalition has been backing the SDF in its push against the IS in the area since last September
The Syrian government has repeatedly accused the US-led coalition in Syria of targeting civilians in the fight against the IS, calling on the international community to dissolve the coaliton.
Meanwhile, US-backed fighters have slowed an offensive to take Islamic State's last enclave in eastern Syria because a small number of civilians remain there, though fierce fighting continues, they said on Monday.