U.N. Security Council to meet on U.S.-led air strikes in Syria

By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council will meet on Saturday at the request of Russia, diplomats said, to discuss air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition in Syria, which Moscow said had targeted and killed Syrian military personnel. The 15-member body is due to meet behind closed doors at 7:30 p.m. ET, diplomats said. Russia and a war monitoring group said coalition jets bombed a Syrian army position near Deir al-Zor airport on Saturday, killing dozens of Syrian soldiers. In a statement carried on Syria's state-owned media, Syria's foreign ministry called for the Security Council to condemn what it described as U.S. aggression and require Washington to respect Syrian sovereignty. Such a move is unlikely as statements by the council have to be agreed by consensus. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Paul Simao)