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ENLARGE
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visits a Russian air base in Syria in June.
Photo:
vadim savitsky/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
By
When Russian aircraft bombed a remote garrison in southeastern Syria last month, alarm bells sounded at the Pentagon and the Ministry of Defense in London.
The Russians weren’t bombarding a run-of-the-mill rebel outpost, according to U.S. officials. Their target was a secret base of operations for elite American and British forces. In fact, a contingent of about 20 British special forces had pulled out of the garrison 24 hours earlier. British officials declined to comment.
U.S. military and intelligence officials say the previously unreported close call for Western forces on June 16, and a subsequent Russian strike on a site linked to the Central Intelligence Agency, were part of a campaign by Moscow to pressure the Obama administration to agree to closer cooperation in the skies over Syria.
Twice Targeted
Russian aircraft bombed a remote outpost in Syria used by U.S. and British special forces in June, and then in July hit a camp housing families of Central Intelligence Agency-backed Syrian fighters.
Aleppo
At-Tanf garrison
The remote outpost about 10 miles from the Jordanian border was hit by Russians on June 16.
Lions of the East family camp
SYRIA
The rebel camp about 50 miles west of At-Tanf was hit by Russians on July 12.
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