Sputnik - US Defense Secretary James Mattis stated that the US-led coalition strike on Thursday targeted Iranian-directed forces near Syria's al-Tanf.


WASHINGTON (Sputnik)�� The pro-Syrian government force the US-led coalition targeted with�a strike on�Thursday was an Iran-directed militia with�offensive capabilities, US Defense Secretary James Mattis said in�a press conference on�Friday.


"It [the strike] was necessitated by�offensive movement with�offensive capability of�what we believe was Iranian-directed forces inside�an established and agreed upon�deconfliction zone," Mattis stated.


On Thursday, the US-led coalition against�the Islamic State terror group (banned in�Russia) conducted a strike near�Syria's al-Tanf, where the United States and British special operations forces have been training Syrian rebel fighters near�the border with�Iraq and Jordan.


The coalition tried to�warn off�the pro-Syrian government forces prior to�carrying out�the airstrike. Russia also tried to�get the forces to�leave the area, but�without success.

The coalition said it conducted the strike because the forces were perceived to�be a threat to�coalition troops, according to�the Defense Department.