Kerry: Moscow Wants Talks with US Military about Syria Ops

Local Editor

US Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday that Russia wants talks with the US military to ensure their forces do not come into conflict as it continues its build-up in Syria.

This comes as Washington expressed concern about Moscow's growing military in Syria, even as it conducts its own air strikes against "ISIL" militants in the country.

"The Russians proposed in a conversation I had today, and in the last conversation specifically, that we have a military-to-military conversation and meeting," Kerry said.

"So we are currently evaluating. The White House, the Defense Department, the State Department are discussing the next steps in order to determine the best way forward."

The United States suspended military-to-military dialogue with Moscow in March 2014 after Russian forces were accused of intervening in support of separatist rebels in Ukraine.

A Pentagon official said the US military has no immediate plans to reopen ties but that "senior leaders continue to have the discretion to communicate with their counterparts as necessary."

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has, however, insisted he will continue to protect the Syrian government from the terrorist groups and a Russian arms build-up has been seen at a Syrian air base.

Kerry said any military-to-military meeting would be "to deconflict with respect to any potential risks that might be run" -- in other words to prevent the forces from running into one another.

"And it is vital to avoid misunderstandings, miscalculations, not to put ourselves in a predicament where we're supposing something and the supposition is wrong," Kerry said.

Washington, he said, would also seek a "complete and clear understanding as to the road ahead and what the intentions are," but he had no new talks date to announce.

"I think we're still very preliminary stage," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters, referring queries to the Pentagon.

"But the secretary was also clear that, if it's true that Russia is only focused on "ISIL", then there is the possibility for cooperation."

Speaking a day after a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Kerry also again warned that Moscow's support for Syria could escalate the conflict.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team