Coalition airstrikes kill 20 in Syria's Deir ez-Zor

By Mohamed Misto and Adham Kako

DEIR EZ-ZOR/ANKARA

U.S.-led coalition warplanes on Friday struck Daesh positions in eastern Syria, leaving a number of civilians dead, according to local sources.

Twenty people in Deir - Al-Susah district were killed by the strikes after trying to flee an exchange of fire between Daesh and the YPG/PKK terrorist group, sources said.

Backed by the U.S., the YPG/PKK has recently registered gains in Deir -Zor’s rural outskirts.

In September of last year, the terrorist group -- aided by U.S. air support and French artillery batteries -- managed to wrest Deir -Zor from Daesh.

According to estimates, nearly of Syria is currently controlled by the YPG/PKK terrorists.