USA Official claims Russia are deliberately targeting US forces In Syria and not focused only on Islamic State and has killed up to 150 CIA-trained rebels

Daily mail report, Russia is ‘deliberately targeting’ U.S.-backed forces in Syria in an air campaign that has killed up to 150 CIA-trained rebels, according to an official. It comes as the two countries are set to hold talks in a bid to avoid clashes in the skies after it emerged that opposing jets have been conducting raids so close together that pilots have been able to see each other.

A U.S. official, who believes up to 150 U.S. trained rebels have been killed by the Russians, told Fox News: ‘Putin is deliberately targeting our forces. Our guys are fighting for their lives.’

Talks between the two countries will be held today after the Pentagon said pilots made visual contact with Russian aircraft on Saturday.

However, Moscow has said the United States has refused to host a delegation led by the Russian prime minister for discussions on the Syrian conflict.

‘They aren’t targeting ISIL, so there is nothing to co-ordinate,’ the official said, adding the only role for Russia is to help Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad step aside.

‘They have been completely disingenuous about their desire to fight ISIL.’

But Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Washington’s decision will not help combat the terror group and settle the conflict in Syria.

He said Putin’s offer to send the delegation led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev underlined Moscow’s desire to raise the level of discussions on the topic.

It comes as thousands of Iranian troops joined Russian aircraft and the Syrian army in preparation for an offensive near the ISIS stronghold of Aleppo.

Russia began air strikes over Syria on September 30 and has stepped up its mission in recent days.