A picture taken early on March 23, 2018 shows what appears to be white phosphorus incendiaries landing during bombardment in Douma, Syria. (AFP File photo)

DAMASCUS, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-led coalition on Sunday fired white phosphorus shells on an Islamic State (IS)-held area in eastern Syria, causing deaths including women and children, state news agency SANA reported.

The shelling targeted the farmlands of the town of Baghouz, the last IS-held area in the eastern Euphrates River region in eastern Deir al-Zour Province, SANA said.

This comes as the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is making its last push against IS remnants in Baghouz after the evacuation of thousands of civilians.

The U.S.-led coalition has been backing the SDF in its push against the IS in the area since last September

The Syrian government has repeatedly accused the U.S.-led coalition in Syria of targeting civilians in the fight against the IS, calling on the international community to dissolve the coaliton.