Russia, USA ‘may coordinate’ on airstrikes in Syria

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Russia’s airstrikes in Syria in support of the Assad regime were “pouring gasoline on the fire” and called for Moscow to pursue a political solution.

The Russian leader received a “hero’s welcome”, with an Egyptian military band playing the Russian national anthem and school children chanting, “Putin, Putin, Sisi, Sisi”, according to an account in the Financial Times.

Arab countries have been critical of Russia’s military intervention to support Assad.

Russia’s bombing campaign comes more than a year after a US-led coalition began air strikes against IS in Syria, and the number of nations flying sorties over the country has raised concern about possible military incidents. The airstrikes were clearly meant to tip the area to the government’s favor, he added. He added that the military wants to achieve victories and “lift the spirits of the regime forces and Shabiha” – a reference to the pro-government militia. Meanwhile, the Turkish military has said its fighter jets were harassed by a MIG-29 plane from an unidentified country close to Syria on Sunday and Monday.

A few of the airstrikes have indeed targeted IS militants.

NATO, on Tuesday, rejected Moscow’s explanation that its warplanes had violated alliance member Turkey’s airspace by mistake and said Russian Federation was sending more ground troops to Syria and building up its naval presence.

“On the whole, these proposals could be put in place,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that the communication channels have been restored with the United States between defense ministries and defense agencies. “At that time, Soleimani played a role in assuring them that we haven’t lost all the cards”.

Syria’s conflict between President Bashar al-Assad and various rebel groups began in 2011.

Putin talked about establishing an worldwide coalition against Islamic State, pursuant to a UN Security Council resolution, with the participation of the Syrian army and regional Muslim states.

State television said government forces had targeted militants at the Sha’ar gas field and village of Qaryatain in Homs province, as well as Atshan, a town to the east of Russian air force bombardments in Hama province on Wednesday.

But Russian operations in the area may complicate those plans and push the administration toward a decision to confront Moscow – one that it has so far not wanted to make.

KENYON: Assad also addressed a crucial issue for Syrian rebel groups and Western powers, his own future.

The response to Russian attacks on CIA-backed Syrian groups, he argued, was “prompt USA retaliation”.

“It seems the Russians are in it not to fight Islamic State but to fundamentally alter the equation in such a way that Assad gets a new lease of life”, Ilter Turan, Professor of Political Science at Istanbul Bilgi University, told AFP. Turkey’s armed forces have very clear instructions.

IS has taken advantage of the chaos in Syria caused by the four-year civil war, which has killed more than 240,000 people and sent millions fleeing, to expand its influence in the country. That opens the possibility, however unlikely, of the Americans and Russians coming to blows.

Not surprisingly, rebel groups are urging global backers to give them more and better weapons.

“The middle ground (in the opposition) is being increasingly eroded”, said Matthew Henman, the head of IHS Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency.

Wealthy states in the region, particularly from the Gulf, are likely to increase the funds and arms they have been giving to Islamist factions like the Nusra Front and its allies Ahrar al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam to counter Russia’s intervention.

‘Russia is not targeting ISIL’.

Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said government forces had launched an attack as Russian planes bombed the area.

Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said US military officials knew that the Russian fleet in the Caspian was equipped with cruise missiles, but he said he did not know if the Russians had notified Iraq, a USA ally, that they would fly through its airspace.

The Kremlin has even reconsidered its opposition to allowing anti-Assad Islamic groups to participate in a settlement.