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Russia has reportedly warned the US that its Syrian military and allied forces are ready to attack a major US base near the Syrian, Jordanian and Iraqi border, US officials said in a CNN report released on Thursday.
The Kremlin, which says the US-led coalition base is protecting militant troops nearby, has issued two warnings last week, US officials said. In Tanf, the base where a coalition of dozens of US soldiers and Syrian rebels launch operations to fight the Islamic State group, is considered a critical place in the influence of Iran, Syria and Russia In the region.
"We absolutely advised them to stay out of At Tanf," an American official told CNN. "We are willing to answer."
"The United States does not seek to fight the Syrian government or groups that could provide support," added another official. "However, if they are attacked, the United States will not hesitate to use the necessary and proportionate force to defend US forces, coalition or partners."
US troops would not need permission to defend themselves if they were attacked, which the United States reiterated in the Kremlin, CNN reported.
A possible attack by Russia, sanctioned by the state, could trigger a conflict within the region. Tensions were raised in February after dozens of Russian mercenaries were killed during a failed assault on an American position near the town of Deir al-Zor.
Russian forces have not yet been seen amassing their troops; The US military was still on alert, officials said. Senior military officials, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Chief of Staff Chiefs General Joseph Dunford, would have been informed of these warnings.
Russia's warnings come amid the impending attacks by Syria and Iran on the city of Idlib, where Syrian rebels have been cornered. Russia last week issued a worrisome warning about an impending chemical attack on the city, which according to some experts indicates that the Syrian regime could use chemical weapons against the city indiscriminately.
The United States launched a clean threat, warning Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that he "was again choosing to use chemical weapons, the United States and its allies would react quickly and appropriately ".
"President Donald J. Trump has warned that such an attack would be an unwise escalation of an already tragic conflict and would risk the lives of hundreds of thousands of people," said Sarah Huckabee Sanders, press secretary of the White House.
