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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAt least two Russian fighters were killed in US air strikes in north-eastern Syria last week, their associates have told the BBC.<\/p>\n
The mercenaries are said to have been hired by private military firms backing Syrian pro-government troops.<\/p>\n
Russia has not confirmed the deaths that were first reported by US media, saying such reports should not be treated as \u201cprimary sources\u201d.<\/p>\n
The US says it killed more than 100 fighters in the strikes last week.<\/p>\n
But Defence Secretary Jim Mattis insisted that despite the media reports he did not have information that \u201cRussian contractors\u201d were among the casualties,<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t give you anything on that, we have not received that word at Central Command or the Pentagon,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
What happened in the US strikes?<\/h2>\n
US officials say hundreds of fighters aligned with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attacked positions of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near the town of Khursham in the Deir al-Zour province.<\/p>\n
They crossed the Euphrates River, shelling an SDF base, where American advisers were present.<\/p>\n
The US responded with air and artillery strikes on 7 February, thwarting the attack and forcing the pro-Assad fighters to retreat, the US officials say.<\/p>\n
Syrian state media have reported that the strikes left dozens killed, accusing the US of a \u201cbrutal massacre\u201d.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Russian defence ministry says that Syrian government-backed troops were hit as they launched an operation against fighters from the Islamic State (IS) group.<\/p>\n
Russia also denies having personnel in the area.<\/p>\n
The strikes happened in the Middle Euphrates Valley, which serves as an informal demarcation line in eastern Syria. The government controls the western side and the SDF the east.<\/p>\n
The two sides have clashed over the past year while trying to drive Islamic State (IS) militants from their last major stronghold in the country.<\/p>\n
What about the Russian mercenaries?<\/h2>\n
Quoting a Pentagon official, CBS News first reported on 8 February that Russian mercenaries were among \u201cpro-regime\u201d forces that attacked the SDF base.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Russians are among those who were killed, this would mark the first time a US air strike has killed Russians in Syria,\u201d CBS News\u2019 David Martin reported.<\/p>\n
More details about those killed in the strikes began to emerge in the following days.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, associates of two Russian fighters confirmed to the BBC that they were killed on 7 February.<\/p>\n
The associates named the dead as Vladimir Loginov, a Cossack from Russia\u2019s western Kaliningrad region, and Kirill Ananyev, a radical nationalist from Moscow.<\/p>\n
Some media reports suggest that dozens of Russian fighters could have been killed.<\/p>\n
They are believed to have been employed by a private Russian company called Wagner. The firm has not commented on the reports.<\/p>\n
How did the Kremlin react?<\/h2>\n
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2019s spokesman declined to provide any details.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have details of servicemen of the Russian armed forces, who are taking part in the Russian military operation in support of the Syrian army,\u201d Dmitry Peskov said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have information about other Russians who might be in Syria. I advise you to contact the defence ministry.\u201d<\/p>\n
And responding to a further BBC question, the spokesman said: \u201d And, of course, you have to realise that many countries of the world have quite large numbers of our compatriots \u2013 of Russians \u2013 and, of course, it\u2019s difficult to have detailed data.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe recommend not treating media reports as primary sources,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
What are Russia\u2019s casualties in the Syrian conflict?<\/h2>\n
Moscow launched a military operation in Syria in support of President Assad on 30 September 2015.<\/p>\n
More than 45 Russian military personnel have been officially confirmed killed since then.<\/p>\n
An unknown number of private military contractors have also died.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, a Russian Sukhoi-25 ground-attack aircraft was shot down in a rebel-held area in Syria\u2019s north-western province of Idlib.<\/p>\n
The pilot survived the initial attack and ejected, but died in a ground fight, detonating his grenade to avoid being captured.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n
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