Although Russia claims to be targeting IS and the Nusra Front, al-Qaida’s Syria affiliate, the Obama administration says the majority of its air strikes have hit “moderate” rebels backed by the United States and its Arab partners.
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He said: “We will jointly agree on strikes against terrorists to be carried out by the Russian and American air forces”.
He said there would be co-ordinated strikes against the terrorists by the Russian and USA air forces, and that in some areas, that excluded action by the Syrian air force.
He spoke early on Saturday at a joint press conference with Lavrov after a marathon day of negotiations in Geneva.
Hostilities in the Syrian civil war will cease nationwide at sundown on September 12, the USA and Russia’s top diplomats said early Saturday, and humanitarian assistance will immediately resume to aid besieged civilians on the brink of starvation and disease.
If the ceasefire holds, the Russian and USA military would start planning joint air operations against extremist groups, including Isis and al-Nusra Front (also referred to as the Front for the Conquest of Syria).
As part of the complex agreement, a seven-day pause in the fighting would begin on Monday evening, the beginning of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
The Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, when government forces launched a violent crackdown against pro-democracy protesters calling for President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
Kerry’s proposal for military cooperation with Russian Federation over Syria has faced resistance from USA defence and intelligence officials, who argue that Moscow can not be trusted.
Kerry said the arrangement depends on “people’s choices”. The Syrian air force would stay out of zones being targeted by the U.S. and Russian Federation.
“If Aleppo is at peace, we believe that the prospects for a diplomatic solution will brighten”, he said.
Kerry told reporters that “bedrock” of the agreement, is Russia’s ensuring that Assad’s air force will no longer fly combat missions over opposition and civilian areas.
Under the agreement the US would work with opposition groups and the Russians with the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad to make sure the cease fire holds.
Syria’s moderate Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels said on Saturday they saw were sceptical the deal would be enforced as Damascus and Moscow had continued bombing their areas under earlier truces. “We welcome the deal if it is going to be enforced”.
Turkey is a leading backer of the rebels fighting to overthrow Mr Assad.
Mr Kerry’s proposal for military cooperation with Russian Federation over Syria has faced resistance from U.S. defence and intelligence officials, who argue that Moscow can not be trusted. Volunteer first responders said they pulled the bodies of nine people, including four children, from rubble following air raids on Friday on a rebel-held area.
The United States and Russian Federation have come to an agreement that could see the two countries uniting against Islamic terrorist groups in Syria.
The Foreign Secretary said: “I welcome the agreement that the United States and Russian Federation have reached to restore the cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access in Syria”.
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The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, appeared with Kerry and Lavrov after the announcement to signal the UN’s backing of the new agreement.
