Kerry: Russian fighter jets in Syria raise serious questions

After all, as Secretary of State John Kerry has thrice told his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, it is only making things worse.

“Because of the Russian engagement the situation in Syria is becoming more complicated and we need to discuss this as part of a much bigger problem – the migration pressures, the humanitarian crisis in Syria as well as the need to defeat ISIL”, he said.

Secretary of State John Kerry said that U.S. President Barack Obama believes military-to-military conversations with Moscow are “an important next step”.

Both Moscow and Washington say their enemy is Islamic State, whose fighters control large parts of Syria.

“Heavy Russian equipment such as tanks and helicopters, as well as naval infantry forces, have recently been moved to Latakia, an Assad stronghold, USA officials say”. The official was not authorized to discuss military matters and spoke on condition of anonymity. He said Russian Federation has “stepped up the pace” of those deliveries.

Speaking after talks in London with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, Kerry said he was prepared to negotiate to achieve a solution but asked whether Assad was. Four million people have fled Syria and nearly twice as many are displaced inside the country. Several Western countries which blame Assad heavily for the political unrest in Syria have been highly critical of Russia’s support for him.

“We’re not being doctrinaire about the specific date or time – we’re open”, Kerry said, adding that Assad doesn’t have to leave “on day one, or month one, or whatever.”

“But you will not end the crisis of Syria as long as Assad remains this magnet for people to come in and fight“.

The Syrian foreign minister said Russian troops were not yet needed.

“They allege that they also share the goal of a political transition that leads to a stable, whole, united secular Syria”. Kerry also urged restraint in response to days of clashes around the Jerusalem holy site known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount.

“We welcome their help to get rid of ISIL and to have a legitimate political transition”, Kerry said, using the acronym of another name for the extremist group.