US, Russia Continue Having Daily Calls to Avoid Aircraft Interference in Syria

The United States and Russia continue to exchange routine calls aimed at preventing their respective aircraft from interfering with each other above Syria, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman John Dorrian told reporters on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Washington and Moscow signed a memorandum of understanding in October 2015 intended to ensure flight safety during their respective combat missions over Syria. “Deconfliction” refers to joint efforts to avoid accidental encounters of military aircraft.

"As far as calls to keep [aircraft] deconflicted…my understanding is that this is a routine thing and they do them on a daily basis," Dorrian said at a briefing.

Earlier this month, the US Department of State announced it was temporarily closing bilateral channels with Russia that had been established to sustain a ceasefire in Syria.

Russia conducted an aerial campaign in Syria from September 2015 until mid-March of this year, when President Vladimir Putin withdrew most Russian forces, saying they had accomplished their objectives in Syria.

Inherent Resolve, a US-led coalition of more than 60 nations, has been carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State terror group in Syria since September 2014, but without the approval of Syria’s government or the United Nations Security Council.