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What happened near Khasham before 12 February 2018?
Summary
A look back at the clash in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, reported in the days before 12 February 2018, that involved US forces, Syrian government troops and Russian contractors.
What had happened in eastern Syria in the days leading up to 12 February 2018? The reports available by that date described a major clash near the town of Khasham, in Deir ez-Zor Governorate.
As reported, a force of five hundred pro-government Syrian troops, backed by tanks and artillery, launched a ground assault on a local headquarters of the Syrian Democratic Forces. The fighting, known as the Battle of Khasham, was reported with dates of 7 and 8 February 2018 in different accounts. More than one hundred Syrian government fighters were killed, among them Russian private military contractors of the Wagner Group.
United States Central Command said it had killed more than 100 pro-government troops in strikes it described as self-defence. It said the strikes took place 8 kilometres (5 miles) east of the Euphrates de-confliction line, which had reportedly been agreed with Russia.
By 12 February 2018, the episode stood as a clash involving Syrian government forces, the Syrian Democratic Forces, US-led coalition strikes and Russian contractors, all near a line meant to keep forces apart.
