ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — An explosion targeted a convoy of the US-led coalition and their Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) allies in the Hasaka countryside of northeast Syria on Monday afternoon.
"When our fighters and an International Coalition team were carrying out routine patrolling on Shaddadi highway today, the terrorist organization tried to conduct a suicide bombing with a car, but our fighters thwarted it,” the SDF stated Monday evening.
ISIS has claimed responsibility.
The SDF said that none of their fighters were killed in the attack that caused in material damage only.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, however, reported that five of the SDF were killed and two US soldiers were injured.
Syrian state TV reported that four SDF were killed.
The coalition confirmed US and local forces came under attack by a car bomb, but there "were no US casualties."
"We can confirm a combined U.S. and Syrian partner force convoy was involved in an apparent VBIED attack today in Syria," tweeted US Army Col. Sean Ryan, the spokesperson for the coalition.
We can confirm a combined U.S. and Syrian partner force convoy was involved in an apparent VBIED attack today in Syria. There were no U.S. casualties. We will continue to review the situation and provide updates as appropriate.
— OIR Spokesperson (@OIRSpox) January 21, 2019
"There were no U.S. casualties. We will continue to review the situation and provide updates as appropriate," it added.
ANHA posted this video of the aftermath of the explosion in Hasaka, Syria, on January 21, 2019.
The mostly-Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) predominately makes up the SDF.
Their affiliated ANHA media reported that a vehicle carrying a bomb refused to stop for security forces at the entrance to Shaddadi town in southern Hasaka.
The driver then detonated the bomb. ANHA posted photos of a burned-out Humvee.
The SDF said that ISIS was using a “new strategy” of suicide bombers and sleeper cells.
On Wednesday, four Americans were killed in the northern Syrian city of Manbij. The attack was also claimed by ISIS.
The SDF are making their last push against the jihadists in Deir ez-Zor province.
President Donald Trump announced in December that US forces will withdraw from Syria.
This is a developing story... Updated 7:12 p.m.
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