US May Get All Information on Russia-Syria Cooperation via Defense Channels

Washington may get all the information it needs on cooperation between Moscow and Damascus through communication channels between the Russian Defense Ministry and the US Department of Defense, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Last week, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter have agreed to re-establish military-to-military contacts between the countries.

“The channel has been established and dialogue has begun. [The United States] can get appropriate answers to all the questions the Americans want [on cooperation between Russia and Syria],” the source told RIA Novosti.

Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011, as government forces loyal to Assad fight several opposition and radical Islamist militant groups, including the Nusra Front and Islamic State (ISIL).

Since the beginning of the Syria civil war, the United States and some of its allies have supported the moderate Syrian opposition while calling for Assad's resignation, while Russia recognized Assad as the only legitimate Syrian authority. Russia has been providing Syria with humanitarian aid and military equipment.