China News Service, August 28. According to foreign media reports, the US and Russian military vehicles collided in northeastern Syria, causing several US military personnel to be injured. The US Pentagon issued its first official statement on the incident on the 27th, calling it a "deliberate provocation" by Russia.
Pentagon chief spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement: "On Tuesday (25th), the Russian army violated our anti-conflict rules in Syria, and its deliberate provocation and aggression harmed American soldiers."
He added: "We have told the Russians that their behavior is dangerous and unacceptable."
US Central Command spokesperson Bill Urban said that seven US soldiers suffered "minor concussions and muscle strains" and all of them have returned to their posts.
According to a Russian satellite network report, Alexei Posunko, the head of the Russian mediation center for the parties to the conflict in Syria, said that US military vehicles followed the Russian military and police patrols in Syria and blocked the patrol's way forward.
Posunko said that the Russian patrol has taken all measures to avoid conflict and continue its mission. Russia and Syria will continue to strictly abide by the agreement reached when carrying out counter-terrorism tasks in Syria.