A number of people were reported killed and wounded after a suicide attack on a U.S.-led Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces convoy in northeastern Syria, but both rejected reports of casualties, saying there were only material losses.
The attack on a Coalition-SDF convoy was reported around 11 a.m. on Monday, January 21 in Syria’s northeastern Al-Hasakah governorate, in a suburb of Shaddadi where the U.S. maintains a military base.
An SDF spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment on reports that a number of SDF personnel were killed.
“We can confirm a combined U.S. and Syrian partner force convoy was involved in an apparent VBIED attack today in Syria. There were no U.S. casualties. We will continue to review the situation and provide updates as appropriate,” CJTF-OIR spokesperson Colonel Sean Ryan later tweeted.
The attack targeted an SDF checkpoint, according to the ANHA news agency, which is close to the force. The report said the booby-trapped vehicle caused “material damage” and showed a burned-out armored vehicle.
A female member of the Asayish, the police force in the autonomous area of northeast Syria, suffered minor injuries, the force said.
In a statement, the SDF said it suffered only “material losses.”
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack comes just days after two U.S. service members, a civilian Defense Department employee and a civilian contractor were among 16 people killed in an ISIS suicide bombing at a restaurant in the town of Manbij.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
