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U.S. and Russia Agree to Regulate All Flights Over Syria U.S. and Russia Agree to Regulate All Flights Over Syria
(about 2 hours later)
MOSCOW — Russia and the United States signed an agreement Tuesday that regulates all aircraft and drone flights over Syria, the defense departments of both countries announced. MOSCOW — Russia and the United States signed an agreement Tuesday that regulates all aircraft and drone flights over Syria, the defense departments of both countries announced.
At a Pentagon briefing, Peter Cook, the department’s press secretary, said the agreement, called a memorandum of understanding, established safety protocols requiring the Russians and the United States-led international coalition fighting the Islamic State in Syria to maintain professional airmanship at all times, use specific communication frequencies and establish a communication line on the ground.At a Pentagon briefing, Peter Cook, the department’s press secretary, said the agreement, called a memorandum of understanding, established safety protocols requiring the Russians and the United States-led international coalition fighting the Islamic State in Syria to maintain professional airmanship at all times, use specific communication frequencies and establish a communication line on the ground.
Anatoly I. Antonov, the Russian deputy defense minister, said in a statement, “The memorandum contains a set of rules and restrictions aimed at preventing incidents between the Russian and U.S. aviation.” He did not go into details, but said it had “important practical significance.” Anatoly I. Antonov, the Russian deputy defense minister, said in a Defense Ministry statement, “The memorandum contains a set of rules and restrictions aimed at preventing incidents between the Russian and U.S. aviation.” He did not go into details, but said it had “important practical significance.”
The coalition has been bombing Islamic State positions in Syria since September 2014, so American officials were alarmed when Russia, with little warning, began launching its own airstrikes in Syria on behalf of its ally three weeks ago. Russia made no effort to coordinate the strikes with American air operations in the region, the United States has said.The coalition has been bombing Islamic State positions in Syria since September 2014, so American officials were alarmed when Russia, with little warning, began launching its own airstrikes in Syria on behalf of its ally three weeks ago. Russia made no effort to coordinate the strikes with American air operations in the region, the United States has said.
Last week, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that it had established a hotline with Israel to coordinate on Syria flights. There have been several close calls. On two occasions, Russian aircraft flew within 1,500 feet and 500 feet of American warplanes, although not in a threatening manner. Such incidents underscore the need for such an agreement, Mr. Cook said.
There have been several close calls above Syria. On two occasions, Russian aircraft flew within 1,500 feet and 500 feet of American warplanes, although not in a threatening manner. Such incidents underscore the need for such an agreement, Mr. Cook said. “The Russians need to abide by these flight safety protocols that they’ve now agreed to, because we don’t want miscalculation and misunderstanding,” he said.
“What it says to me is that the Russians need to abide by these flight safety protocols that they’ve now agreed to, because we don’t want miscalculation and misunderstanding,” he said. The protocols call for aircraft to maintain a “safe distance” from one another, said Mr. Cook, refusing to elaborate on what that distance is but saying coalition air crews know how close is too close. “There’s no need for them to have an encounter if everyone’s abiding by these rules,” he said.
The protocols call for aircraft to maintain a “safe distance” from one another, Mr. Cook said, refusing to elaborate on what that distance is but saying coalition aircrews know how close is too close. “There’s no need for them to have an encounter if everyone’s abiding by these rules,” he said.
The text of the memo was not released. Mr. Cook said the Russians had requested that it not be shared. He declined to elaborate on the ground communication line, including where exactly it would be located, but described it as a backup resource to “have real-time conversations” in case something went wrong with the air communications.The text of the memo was not released. Mr. Cook said the Russians had requested that it not be shared. He declined to elaborate on the ground communication line, including where exactly it would be located, but described it as a backup resource to “have real-time conversations” in case something went wrong with the air communications.
Mr. Antonov suggested that more concrete steps needed to be hammered out, including round-the-clock communications channels that would be established between the two relevant military commands and cooperation on issues like joint assistance in “critical situations.”Mr. Antonov suggested that more concrete steps needed to be hammered out, including round-the-clock communications channels that would be established between the two relevant military commands and cooperation on issues like joint assistance in “critical situations.”
Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, told reporters that an agreement was important because the number of aircraft aloft in recent days had increased noticeably, with as many as 30 combat aircraft sharing the sky over the same area simultaneously.Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, told reporters that an agreement was important because the number of aircraft aloft in recent days had increased noticeably, with as many as 30 combat aircraft sharing the sky over the same area simultaneously.
“There are military transport planes, combat aircraft and drones of various size, including attack drones,” General Konashenkov was quoted saying by the Tass news agency.“There are military transport planes, combat aircraft and drones of various size, including attack drones,” General Konashenkov was quoted saying by the Tass news agency.
One reason that President Vladimir V. Putin was also believed to be intent on taking action in Syria was to try to break Russia out of the diplomatic isolation imposed by the West over the Ukraine crisis, and the agreement Tuesday appeared to be a step in that direction. At the Pentagon, Mr. Cook emphasized that the agreement did not establish the sharing of intelligence or target information and that it did not “constitute U.S. cooperation or support for Russia’s policy or actions in Syria.”
At the Pentagon, Mr. Cook emphasized that the agreement did not establish the sharing of intelligence or target information in Syria and that it did not “constitute U.S. cooperation or support for Russia’s policy or actions in Syria.”
“We continue to believe that Russia’s strategy in Syria is counterproductive and their support for the Assad regime will only make Syria’s civil war worse,” said Mr. Cook, referring to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.“We continue to believe that Russia’s strategy in Syria is counterproductive and their support for the Assad regime will only make Syria’s civil war worse,” said Mr. Cook, referring to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.
The statement from Russia’s Defense Ministry expressed disappointment that the agreement was limited to technical military matters.The statement from Russia’s Defense Ministry expressed disappointment that the agreement was limited to technical military matters.
“The Russian side was seeking a more substantial agreement,” it said.
Moscow had proposed a number of specific measures to deepen Russian-American military cooperation to counter the threat from international terrorism, the statement said.Moscow had proposed a number of specific measures to deepen Russian-American military cooperation to counter the threat from international terrorism, the statement said.
Speaking to senior law enforcement commanders on Tuesday, Mr. Putin reiterated that Russia had deployed its military in Syria to prevent the threat from the Islamic State from spreading beyond the Middle East.Speaking to senior law enforcement commanders on Tuesday, Mr. Putin reiterated that Russia had deployed its military in Syria to prevent the threat from the Islamic State from spreading beyond the Middle East.
“By creating a stronghold in Syria and a number of other Middle Eastern states, the terrorists have been making plans to expand their activities and destabilize entire regions,” Mr. Putin said.“By creating a stronghold in Syria and a number of other Middle Eastern states, the terrorists have been making plans to expand their activities and destabilize entire regions,” Mr. Putin said.
Although Russia said it had deployed more than 50 aircraft to Syria to fight the Islamic State, the attacks that started Sept. 30 have mostly targeted central areas controlled by groups opposed to the Syrian government other than the Islamic State militants. Western diplomats have warned that Russia’s tactics could make ISIS stronger.
Last week, Mr. Putin lashed back at critics, saying the Russian government had asked the United States for the coordinates of groups that it should not target but had not received a reply.
The Russian Defense Ministry said it had wanted the United States to provide information about targets in Syria as part of the agreement reached Tuesday. But American officials have said privately that they fear that if Russia shares that information with Syria, Syria will target groups supported by the United States. Such cooperation may feed suspicions among opposition groups that Washington and Moscow are allied against them.
Russia was also looking for closer cooperation in cases in which aircraft are shot down or are forced to making an emergency landing, the statement said, including joint search and rescue missions. Washington rejected the idea, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
Finally, the Russian statement added the standard line that every official, starting with Mr. Putin, makes when discussing its role in Syria — that Russia has the legitimate right to be there because it was invited by the government in Damascus, whereas the United States-backed coalition is bombing Syria against international law.
The agreement Tuesday does nothing to change that, the Russian statement said.