US Talk of 'Deconflicting' in Syria Flawed Approach to Russia - Menendez

Preparing of deconfliction mechanisms by military officials in the event of Russian and US aircraft operating in the same battlespace is the wrong approach, US Senator Bob Menendez told Sputnik.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein — The discussion among US military leaders of preparing deconfliction measures in the event of Russian and US aircraft operating in the same battlespace is the wrong approach, Menendez said.

"Keeping lines of communication open is fine," Menendez said of diplomatic talks between Russia and the United States. "But if what you are going to do is help [Syrian President Bashar] Assad fight against his own people, then deconflicting in that respect is not particularly a good idea."

On Wednesday, Pentagon officials stated that they would prepare deconfliction mechanisms if they believed Russian military operations in Syria could become hazardous to ongoing US and anti-Islamic State coalition efforts in the country.

Until such a situation emerges, US officials have stated that the United States and Russia will continue communicating at the diplomatic level.

Russia confirmed this week that it was continuing to provide military hardware to the Syrian government in order to roll back Islamic State forces. Russia has flown humanitarian aid into the Latakia airfield, according to Defense Ministry officials.