US Holds Senior-Level Talks to Further Deconflict Syria Operations With Russia

Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman said that United States has recently held senior-level discussions on further deconflicting operations in the Syrian air space with Russia after the near-miss incident last month.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States has recently held senior-level discussions on further deconflicting operations in the Syrian air space with Russia after the near-miss incident last month, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Col. John Dorrian said at a press briefing Thursday.

"My understanding is there were some senior-level discussions but that is a newer thing that I am really not privy to any of the details on. I think that is something that happened in the last day or two," Dorrian told reporters when asked whether any steps have been taken to further deconflict the air space over Syria after the October 17 near-miss.

Later, the Defense Department said US and Russian defense officials held a constructive video conference and reiterated the need to avoid accidents and misunderstandings in the airspace over Syria.

The deconfliction channel is part of a memorandum of understanding on safety in Syria's airspace signed by the US Defense Department and Russian Ministry of Defense in October 2015.

US-led coalition forces are preparing for an assault on Raqqa, the Islamic State's capital in Syria. The operation is expected to overlap with the coalition operation to retake the city of Mosul in Iraq.