Monday, January 23, 2017

The Pentagon rubbishes Russian claims of joint air mission over Syria as 'propaganda'

The Russian defense ministry has said its warplanes have flown their first combat mission in Syria with US-led coalition aircraft. Pictured are two Russian Tu-22M3 bombers on Monday

The US Military has rubbished claims Russian fighter jets have flown their first combat mission in Syria alongside American-led coalition forces. 
US Marine Major Adrian JT Rankine-Galloway completely dismissed the claims from the Kremlin on Monday afternoon.
'The Department of Defense is not coordinating airstrikes with the Russian military in Syria,' a statement read.
'DoD maintains a channel of communication with the Russian military focused solely on ensuring the safety of aircrews and de-confliction of Coalition and Russian operations in Syria.'
The Russian defense ministry has said its warplanes have flown their first combat mission in Syria with US-led coalition aircraft. Pictured are two Russian Tu-22M3 bombers on Monday
US Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a coalition spokesman, spoke out almost immediately against the Russian claim - dubbing it propaganda. 
White House spokesman Sean Spicer would not comment on the specific reports, however he suggested Donald Trump would be willing to work with Russia.


'The President has been very clear he is going to work with any country that shares our interest in defeating ISIS. If there’s a way we can… whether it’s with Russia or whoever else, we’ll take it,' Spicer said. 
Moments earlier the Russian Defense Ministry claimed the landmark operation had taken place. 
Coalition spokesman Air Force Col. John Dorrian (left) slammed the Kremlin's claims as propaganda
Coalition spokesman Air Force Col. John Dorrian (left) slammed the Kremlin's claims as propaganda
US Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a coalition spokesman, spoke out almost immediately against the Russian claim - dubbing it propaganda. Pictured are American jets on an aircraft carrier in July 2016
US Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a coalition spokesman, spoke out almost immediately against the Russian claim - dubbing it propaganda. Pictured are American jets on an aircraft carrier in July 2016
The Pentagon dismissed the claims that were made by the Kremlin on Monday about a joint strike
The Pentagon dismissed the claims that were made by the Kremlin on Monday about a joint strike
The ministry claimed its forces in Syria had received coordinates of ISIS targets near al-Bab on Sunday 'from the US side via hotline with the international coalition headquarters.' 

WHAT COUNTRIES ARE IN THE COALITION INTERVENING IN SYRIA? 

USA
Australia 
Denmark
France 
Turkey
Netherlands 
UK
Russia 
Canada
Belgium
Germany 
Italy
Jordan
Morocco
Bahrain
UAE 
Coming just three days after Trump was sworn in as President, the alleged mission could arguably be seen as a sign of America's changing relationship with Vladimir Putin's administration. 
Russia-US relations were at their lowest since the Cold War under Barack Obama, with tensions around conflict in Ukraine and Syria crisis. 
However, it has been reported President Trump is planning to make contact with the Russian leader in an attempt to rebuild the relationship. 
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters contacts between Moscow and Washington about the date of the first phone call between the two leaders were being handled by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Contrary to Monday's reports, Peskov explained that it was too early to talk about the details of any possible cooperation between Russia and the US in fighting ISIS. 
Despite efforts to build bridges with the Kremlin, last week Trump made clear he wanted Russia's nuclear weapons to be 'reduced very substantially'. 
It has been reported Donald Trump will work to build a relationship between the US and Russia. The President is pictured in the Oval Office on Monday
It has been reported Donald Trump will work to build a relationship between the US and Russia. The President is pictured in the Oval Office on Monday
President Trump is planning to make contact with Vladimir Putin. The Russian President is pictured on January 18
President Trump is planning to make contact with Vladimir Putin. The Russian President is pictured on January 18
'They have sanctions on Russia - let's see if we can make some good deals with Russia,' Trump told the Times newspaper in the UK.
'For one thing, I think nuclear weapons should be way down and reduced very substantially, that's part of it.'
The President also criticized Russia for its intervention in the Syrian civil war, describing it as 'a very bad thing' that had led to a 'terrible humanitarian situation.'

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