LONDON: The
United States is disturbed by Russia's movement of tactical aircraft to
Syria, US secretary of state John Kerry said Saturday, acknowledging
that the jets could pose a threat to American and allied military forces.
US officials say Russia moved a small number of fighter jets to a base in Syria on Friday, hours after US defence secretary Ash Carter talked with Russia defence minister Sergei Shoigu in the first military contacts between the two countries in some time.
"Clearly, the presence of aircraft with air-to-air combat capacity ... raises serious questions," Kerry said, responding to a question after meeting with British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond.
Russia says its recent military buildup in Syria is designed to fight the Islamic State group. While ISIS lacks an air force, the Russian aircraft are capable of striking ground targets and providing close air support for ground forces, according to a US intelligence official who was not authorized to discuss military matters and spoke on condition of anonymity.
US officials say Russia moved a small number of fighter jets to a base in Syria on Friday, hours after US defence secretary Ash Carter talked with Russia defence minister Sergei Shoigu in the first military contacts between the two countries in some time.
"Clearly, the presence of aircraft with air-to-air combat capacity ... raises serious questions," Kerry said, responding to a question after meeting with British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond.
Russia says its recent military buildup in Syria is designed to fight the Islamic State group. While ISIS lacks an air force, the Russian aircraft are capable of striking ground targets and providing close air support for ground forces, according to a US intelligence official who was not authorized to discuss military matters and spoke on condition of anonymity.
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