Syrian media said Wednesday that a Syrian civilian was killed and another was wounded when US troops opened fire on locals who had tried to block a US convoy from driving through a checkpoint in a village in the country's northeast.
The state SANA news agency said the locals had gathered at the army checkpoint in the village of Khirbet Ammu, east of the town of Qamishli, pelting the US convoy with stones and taking down a US flag from one vehicle.
At that point, US troops fired with live ammunition and smoke bombs at the residents, the report said.
There was no immediate comment from the US-led coalition to the report, which could not be independently confirmed.
The reported incident marks a rare confrontation involving US and Syria troops in the crowded region where Russian troops are also deployed and is sure to further escalate tensions.
Hundreds of US troops are stationed in northeastern Syria, working with their local partners from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to fight against the Islamic State group.
The US carries out patrols in northeastern Syria, but it was not immediately clear why the convoy drove into a government-controlled area.
SANA said the incident occurred after Syrian troops stopped a US convoy of four vehicles travelling on the road, and hundreds of people gathered at the checkpoint to prevent it from continuing on its way.
The US troops opened fire and after a civilian was killed and another wounded, the residents attacked the convoy and damaged four vehicles, SANA said.
State-run Al-Ikhbariya TV aired a cellphone video showing an armoured vehicle flying a US flag standing on a rural road while a car appeared to be blocking its way.
Locals are seen walking past the US armoured vehicle, with at least two soldiers inside, one of whom steps down as civilians approach.
One civilian is seen tearing a US flag as he approaches the soldier.
The TV said protests spread, preventing reinforcements from coming to help the US convoy.
The report said the wounded civilian and was being treated at the Qamishli hospital.
Al-Ikhbariya and the Kurdish-affiliated Rojava Information Center reported that US aircraft flew over the village where the incident occurred, saying there were direct clashes between US troops and locals in Khirbet Ammu.
The state-run TV said there were reports of a US casualty, adding that troops withdrew from the area.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said residents and armed pro-government militiamen in Khirbet Ammu blocked the path of a US.
The militia fired in the air, prompting US troops to fire smoke bombs.
Tension escalated and US troops killed one person, the Observatory said.
The Observatory, which has a network of activists on the ground, said it is not clear if the killed was a civilian or a militia member.
US jets flew over the area during the confrontation, amid reports that the convoy was completely encircled.
After a tense standoff, the convoy was able to leave the area as jets flying overhead broke the sound barrier.
The Observatory also said that a Russian convoy arrived on the scene to defuse the tension.
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