The USA and Russian air forces successfully conducted a safety protocol in the Syrian skies to avoid any kind of accidental clash while the two nations carry out separate missions over the disputed region. The test lasted approximately three minutes.
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“The test was conducted”.
“This test assured that the first time this mode of communication was used would not be during an unplanned encounter”.
The exercise essentially was a test to ensure Russian and American planes don’t collide in mid-air, Smith said in an email.
Assad made a surprise visit to Moscow last month, which was viewed as a signal that Russian Federation ultimately seeks a political settlement after weeks of heavy airstrikes in Syria, although the terms of such an arrangement are uncertain.
A U.S. military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a USA fighter jet and a Russian fighter jet came within eight kilometres of each other.
Meanwhile, Martin reports, Russian Federation appears to be making a real move toward attacking the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the Syrian town of Palmyra, which was captured over the summer by the extremists. Moscow also maintains a forward staging base in Hama and a third base was recently established just south of Homs in Shairat. The USA refused to consider it a joint military exercise unlike the Russians and called it a mere test.
Overall violence in the country has surged since Russian Federation, a top ally of embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad, began airstrikes around the country on September 30.
Hosting a delegation of Russian parliamentarians in Damascus last month, Mr Assad expressed his gratitude for Moscow’s support and said eliminating “terrorist” groups would resolve Syria’s problems.
On Tuesday, Iran’s semi-official news agency Fars said an officer with the elite Revolutionary Guard force had been killed in Syria. Russian Federation “may not care if Assad stays in power as we do”, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, said Monday.
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Russian officials on Tuesday also said its jets bombed 24 targets in Syria using coordinates supplied by “opposition representatives”, the first time it has claimed to work with those fighting Syria’s government since beginning its air offensive.
