Russia says US-led airstrikes kill 62 Syrian government troops

Moscow, Sep 18 (IANS) The US-led coalition killed 62 Syrian government troops and injured some 100 others in a round of airstrikes in eastern Syria's province of Deir al-Zour, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Saturday.

"Today, in areas close to the Deir ez-Zor Airport, the aircraft from the international anti-Islamic State coalition carried out four air-strikes against units of the Syrian government troops surrounded by terrorists," the ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

The operation left 62 Syrian servicemen dead and about 100 injured, the spokesman said, adding that the warplanes entered the airspace of Syria from the Iraqi border.

Syria's national TV also confirmed the killing of Syrian servicemen by the US-led coalition.

A monitor group, however, reported that the airstrikes have killed over 30 Syrian soldiers,.