Russian official accuses US of evacuating dozens of IS commanders in Syria

Deputy Chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the Federation Council (Upper House) of Russia, Mr. Franz Klintsevich​ said that it is almost 100% certain that the US used helicopters to evacuate dozens of commanders of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization from the city of Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria.

Smoke rises after an airstrike in Deir al-Zor, Syria. (Source: AA/ABACAPRESS.COM/TTXVN)

On his personal Facebook account, Mr. Klintsevich stated: "Although the staff of the so-called anti-terrorist coalition has always tried to deny the information that the US evacuated more than 20 IS leaders from the city of Deir al-Zour, the history of US actions, including in Afghanistan, shows that this is almost 100% certain to have happened. As a person who has experienced war, I can confirm that Russia has always felt the direct involvement of the US on the side of the jihadist groups."

Previously, a military-diplomatic source of Sputnik news agency said that in August 2017, the US Air Force evacuated more than 20 IS battlefield commanders and close gunmen from Deir al-Zour to northern Syria.

The source also noted that this was not the first evacuation. However, the US-led international coalition against IS has denied this information.

The information was released in the context of foreign IS commanders fleeing after the Syrian government army stepped up operations to break the IS siege in the city of Deir al-Zour.

A Syrian military source said on September 4 that foreign commanders of IS are trying to escape, abandoning local fighters in the context of IS rebels being fiercely attacked by the Syrian army and allied forces.

IS has held much of Deir al-Zour province since 2014, besieging government forces and civilians in the capital Deir al-Zour since 2015.

Therefore, the transportation of food and other necessities is done through air.

The Syrian government army is accelerating its offensive campaign along the eastern side of the Euphrates River to regain control and liberate the city of Deir al-Zour - the last IS stronghold in Syria./.

According to VietNam +