Russia Proposes Joint Airstrikes With US-Led Coalition In Syria

Russia on Friday proposed conducting joint airstrikes with the U.S.-led coalition in Syria against an al-Qaida-linked group and other factions, marking a potential new strategy by Moscow toward more coordination with the West and allies in the Syrian conflict.

But any such proposal would need backing from Washington and its partners, whose airstrikes have concentrated on Islamic State strongholds in Syria. Russia also could face backlash for its military intervention launched last year to aid the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Several Pentagon officials said they were not immediately aware of any plans to change the current arrangement for separate U.S. and Russian air operations in Syria.

The Pentagon now holds periodic video conferences with Russian officials on those operations, but the communications are limited to flight safety. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

Speaking at a gathering of military and political leaders in Moscow, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu proposed joint airstrikes beginning Wednesday against forces that have not signed a recently negotiated cease-fire.

He also warned that Russia had the right to strike unilaterally.

“We propose . . . a joint action between the Russian Air Force and the U.S.-led coalition to plan and conduct strikes against the al-Nusra Front, which does not support the cease-fire, as well as against convoys of arms and fighters crossing the Syrian-Turkish border,” Shoigu said, according to a translation of the televised remarks by Russian state media.

He also said that Moscow would “reserve the right to unilaterally conduct airstrikes against forces of the international terrorist organizations and militant groups that did not join the truce.”

At the moment, both countries are intervening separately in Syria.

A U.S.-led coalition of Western and Middle Eastern countries has launched thousands of strikes in the country since September 2014, while also backing moderate rebels battling Assad.

Russia intervened last September, striking a wide array of targets including the Islamic State but also more moderate forces opposed to Assad.