Syrian Army says US-led airstrike killed hundreds, including civilians

Damascus: The Syrian Army claimed Thursday that a US-led airstrike against the Islamic State near Deir ez-Zor killed a large number of civilians, due to the suffocation resulted from inhaling toxic substances.

According to SANA news agency, "The General Command of the army and armed forces said that the aircrafts of the so-called "US-led International Alliance" on Wednesday between the hour 17:30 and 17:50 carried out an airstrike against a position of ISIS terrorists that includes a large number of foreign mercenaries in the village of Hatla to the east of Deir Ezzor, causing a white cloud that became yellow as a result of the explosion of a huge store that includes a large amount of toxic materials."

In a statement issued Thursday, the Army General Command stressed that the airstrike of the "US-led International Alliance" killed hundreds, including large numbers of civilians, due to the suffocation resulted from inhaling toxic substances.

This comes amid escalated tensions between the two countries as U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a missile strike on the Shayrat airfield of the Syrian air forces, believed by Washington to be the base for warplanes that carried out the chemical attack rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun killing 87 people, including many children.

The majority of the international community has blamed the attack on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but the government has denied involvement in the toxic attack and blamed rebel groups.

Russia and Iran have meanwhile stood by the Syrian government over the issue.