Russian and US forces have for the first time exchanged military
information during airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria
amid early signs of thawing relations between the two countries
following the Paris terror attacks and the downing of a Russian airliner.
The contacts came after Russia’s intelligence service, the FSB, confirmed that a bomb had brought down the Russian passenger plane over Egypt last month, as had been previously been claimed by Isis.
Early on Tuesday, France and Russia launched a series of punishing attacks in Syria that included the first use by Moscow of long-range bombers in its campaign.
Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, said he had told his navy to coordinate with French naval forces in the Mediterranean. “Our air force’s military work in Syria must not simply be continued,” he said. “It must be intensified in such a way that the criminals understand that retribution is inevitable.”
Pentagon officials revealed that the advance warning provided by Russia of its long-range bombing strike on the Isis stronghold of Raqqa allowed US air force commanders based in Qatar to track the cruise missiles used in the attack and ensure no American planes were put at risk.
“We are not coordinating or cooperating with the Russians in terms of targets but we are taking these important steps to make sure our pilots, and the Russian crews for that matter, do not come into conflict with one another,” said defence department spokesman Peter Cook, who said it was the first time the early warning system agreed in October has been put to use.
US officials also welcomed the apparent shift in Russian targeting toward Isis fighters in the east of Syria, rather than US-backed moderates, but warned that using long-range bombers may pose a higher risk of collateral damage.
“The US military goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties and we have been very clear about asking Russian forces to do the same,” said state department spokesman Mark Toner.
The contacts came after Russia’s intelligence service, the FSB, confirmed that a bomb had brought down the Russian passenger plane over Egypt last month, as had been previously been claimed by Isis.
Early on Tuesday, France and Russia launched a series of punishing attacks in Syria that included the first use by Moscow of long-range bombers in its campaign.
Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, said he had told his navy to coordinate with French naval forces in the Mediterranean. “Our air force’s military work in Syria must not simply be continued,” he said. “It must be intensified in such a way that the criminals understand that retribution is inevitable.”
Pentagon officials revealed that the advance warning provided by Russia of its long-range bombing strike on the Isis stronghold of Raqqa allowed US air force commanders based in Qatar to track the cruise missiles used in the attack and ensure no American planes were put at risk.
“We are not coordinating or cooperating with the Russians in terms of targets but we are taking these important steps to make sure our pilots, and the Russian crews for that matter, do not come into conflict with one another,” said defence department spokesman Peter Cook, who said it was the first time the early warning system agreed in October has been put to use.
US officials also welcomed the apparent shift in Russian targeting toward Isis fighters in the east of Syria, rather than US-backed moderates, but warned that using long-range bombers may pose a higher risk of collateral damage.
“The US military goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties and we have been very clear about asking Russian forces to do the same,” said state department spokesman Mark Toner.
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