Putin’s war jets pound ‘secret’ anti-ISIS SAS base in Syria with cluster bombs
SAS soldiers had lucky escape as they had just left the base on a mission, but four Western backed rebels killed
RUSSIAN war jets bombed a secret SAS camp in Syria, it has been revealed.
Putin’s Su-34 fighters twice swooped in to hit the At-Tanf garrison last month – which is now claimed to be a covert hub for ‘Who Dares Wins’ aces.
And insiders said a team of 20 crack troops had left the base just 24 hours before the blitz – which killed a number of western trained rebels fighting hated Islamic State.
An insider said: “The Russians dropped cluster bombs on the base which is being used by US and UK Special Forces soldiers.
“They were pushed away by US jets, but when the US jets went to refuel, the Russian fighters came back and bombed the base again.
“Not long before the attack a team of SAS soldiers had left the base on a mission.
“This could have been so much worse – and had far more serious consequences.”
Four western backed rebels died in the blitz, it was claimed at the time.
The Sun reported last month how US F-18s and Russian Su-34s fighters were embroiled in a tense stand-off over the base, close to the Jordanian border.
It was then claimed the Russians had unwittingly hit a rebel base thinking it was an Islamic State stronghold.
Insiders said the Russians left when the US F-18s arrived but when they paused to refuel the Russian jets returned to resume bombing.
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Reports in the US revealed the second attack killed Syrian rebels giving first aid to those hurt in the first attack.
At the time the Pentagon said in a statement: “Russia’s continued strikes at At-Tanf, even after U.S. attempts to inform Russian forces through proper channels of ongoing coalition air support to the counter-ISIS forces, created safety concerns for U.S. and coalition forces.”
Officially the At-Tanf garrison is a base for over 200 rebels being trained to fight Islamic State.
Now, the Wall Street Journal has revealed it is also a launchpad for US special ops fighters, and UK special forces.
They would rendezvous with rebels at the garrison then launch joint covert missions against ISIS.
Just hours before this strike they had left to conduct another mission.
It was also reported a subsequent strike this month was orchestrated by Russian jets against a CIA backed outpost for the families of rebel fighters.
Children were killed and scores more injured in the outrage.
It has since been claimed the Russians struck the bases on purpose in a bid to force the Americans into closer ties with Putin.
Russian bombers have repeatedly hit CIA-backed rebels fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
An MoD spokesman, said: “We do not comment on Special Forces.”