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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| US and Russia sign deal to avoid Syria air incidents | US and Russia sign deal to avoid Syria air incidents |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Russia and the US have signed a deal that they hope will avoid clashes between their air forces in the skies over Syria, officials from both countries said. | Russia and the US have signed a deal that they hope will avoid clashes between their air forces in the skies over Syria, officials from both countries said. |
| Russian began air strikes in Syria on 30 September, saying it was targeting Islamic State (IS) militants. | Russian began air strikes in Syria on 30 September, saying it was targeting Islamic State (IS) militants. |
| Last week, the US said both countries' planes "entered the same battle space" and came within miles of each other. | Last week, the US said both countries' planes "entered the same battle space" and came within miles of each other. |
| Officials had been seeking an agreement since late September. | Officials had been seeking an agreement since late September. |
| Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said the text of the deal would remain secret at Moscow's request, but that it laid out means for both sides to communicate and establish a hotline on the ground. | Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said the text of the deal would remain secret at Moscow's request, but that it laid out means for both sides to communicate and establish a hotline on the ground. |
| The two countries would not, however, share intelligence on their targets, he said. | The two countries would not, however, share intelligence on their targets, he said. |
| Mr Cook also said the deal ensured aircraft would stay a "safe" distance from each other, but he would not confirm if specific distances were agreed. | Mr Cook also said the deal ensured aircraft would stay a "safe" distance from each other, but he would not confirm if specific distances were agreed. |
| Should there be a Syria no-fly zone? | Should there be a Syria no-fly zone? |
| High-stakes gamble over Syria | High-stakes gamble over Syria |
| Last week, the Pentagon said Russian and US combat aircraft were in visual contact with each other, 10 to 20 miles (15-30km) apart. | Last week, the Pentagon said Russian and US combat aircraft were in visual contact with each other, 10 to 20 miles (15-30km) apart. |
| Russia's Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov said the memorandum "contains a number of rules and restrictions aimed at preventing incidents between American and Russian planes". | |
| Analysis: Gary O'Donoghue, BBC News, Washington DC | Analysis: Gary O'Donoghue, BBC News, Washington DC |
| This agreement has taken almost three weeks to hammer out and is of limited scope. It does not co-ordinate air strikes, targets or intelligence - it simply aims to prevent the aircraft from getting too close to one another. | This agreement has taken almost three weeks to hammer out and is of limited scope. It does not co-ordinate air strikes, targets or intelligence - it simply aims to prevent the aircraft from getting too close to one another. |
| In a statement, the Pentagon said the protocols would include maintaining professional airmanship, the use of specific communication frequencies and the establishment of a communication line on the ground. The latter is designed as a backup if all else fails. | In a statement, the Pentagon said the protocols would include maintaining professional airmanship, the use of specific communication frequencies and the establishment of a communication line on the ground. The latter is designed as a backup if all else fails. |
| The agreement only covers flights over Syria and does not address Turkish concerns over Russian infringements of its airspace. | The agreement only covers flights over Syria and does not address Turkish concerns over Russian infringements of its airspace. |
| Nevertheless, it should make the risk of clashes between coalition and Russian planes less likely - providing everyone sticks to it. | Nevertheless, it should make the risk of clashes between coalition and Russian planes less likely - providing everyone sticks to it. |
| Western countries and Syrian activists say Russian planes have been hitting non-IS targets, a claim Moscow denies. | Western countries and Syrian activists say Russian planes have been hitting non-IS targets, a claim Moscow denies. |
| Russia said it began its aerial campaign against IS militants and other jihadist groups after a request for military help from its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. | Russia said it began its aerial campaign against IS militants and other jihadist groups after a request for military help from its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. |
| US officials said they were given only an hour's notice when the first Russian raids took place. | US officials said they were given only an hour's notice when the first Russian raids took place. |
| On Monday, at least 45 people were reported killed in Russian air strikes in a rebel-held area of the north-west Latakia province. | On Monday, at least 45 people were reported killed in Russian air strikes in a rebel-held area of the north-west Latakia province. |