DAMASCUS, Dec. 7 -- U.S.-led coalition airplanes struck positions of the Syrian army in the country's eastern province on Sunday evening, local media reported.

The airstrike caused casualties for the Syrian army in the Ayash area in the country's eastern province of Deir al-Zour, though the exact number was unknown, pro-government Sham FM radio reported.

The attack is the first of such incidents to have targeted the Syrian government troops since the U.S.-led coalition started its operations specifically against the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria over a year ago.

Further details surrounding this incident are still forthcoming, the report said.

Syrian officials have repeatedly questioned the intention and the seriousness of the U.S. coalition in the war on terror, especially after the recent involvement of the French and British warplanes in the coalition.