- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

US May Work With Russia on 'Deconfliction' in Syria on 'Tactical Level'

© AP Photo / Firas AbdullahSyrians inspecting damage following an airstrike on the Damascus suburb of Douma, Syria, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015
Syrians inspecting damage following an airstrike on the Damascus suburb of Douma, Syria, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
There are no plans to restore official US-Russian military-to-military contacts, but engagement on deconfliction may become needed in Syrian conflict zones, US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Christine Wormuth told Sputnik on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein — Asked about restoring regular military contact between the United States and Russia, Wormuth repeated "we are not at that point right now."

"If they [Russia] begin operations, there may be a need for tactical deconfliction, but that has not happened yet," Wormuth said of recent reports of Russian cargo flights into Syria.

Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Russia had proposed military-to-military contacts with the United States on the situation in Syria. A political solution to the ongoing conflict in Syria with Russia’s assistance is still possible, he added.

Smoke rises during clashes between forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and the Army of Islam fighters - Sputnik International
Russia Proposes Military-to-Military Talks With US on Syria - Kerry
US Defense Department Press Secretary Peter Cook said Tuesday that the United States had suspended military-to-military relations with Russia over Moscow’s alleged involvement in the crisis in Ukraine adding that Defense Secretary Ashton Carter had not had any talks with Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu so far.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with Assad’s government fighting against many opposition factions and extremist groups, including ISIL and al-Nusra. Russia, unlike many Western countries, considers Assad to be the legitimate authority in Syria, and has provided humanitarian aid and military equipment to the country.

Media reports fueling speculation about a Russian military buildup in Syria have been consistently dismissed by Moscow and Damascus.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала