U.S. officials are weighing a proposal for an airstrike against Syrian military targets that would likely result in the deaths of Russian troops operating in the country, The Intercept reported Thursday.

Defense Secretary James Mattis James Norman MattisBiden courts veterans amid fallout from Trump military controversies Trump says he wanted to take out Syria's Assad but Mattis opposed it Gary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November MORE is expected to deliver the Pentagon's proposals to President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Thursday.

Among those plans is a proposal for a "saturation strike" on Syrian military targets, including airfields, two military officials told The Intercept.

But that plan would likely lead to Russian casualties in Syria, the officials said. It would break from previous U.S. strategy under the Obama administration to avoid military action in the country that could cause Russian deaths.

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The proposals come on the heels of a chemical weapons attack in northern Syria on Tuesday that killed scores of civilians. The strike was allegedly carried out by the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, though the Syrian government denies responsibility.

Under the Obama administration, the U.S. pushed for the removal of Assad, whom Syrian rebels have been fighting to oust since 2011. Russia, on the other hand, has backed the regime and provided military support to the Syrian government.

Compounding the situation is the fact that the many of the Syrian military's airfields are near civilian-inhabited areas, increasing the risk of civilian casualties from a potential U.S. airstrike.

The U.S. currently has military forces in Syria, though they are acting in an advising capacity and are not directly involved in combat.