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| Vladimir Putin warned earlier this week that Isil's influence has spread "far beyond" the borders of Iraq and Syria, but that it is as yet "too early" to talk about air strikes in support of Assad against Isil |
US and Russian defence chiefs spoke for the first time in over a year on Friday, breaking their silence to discuss the crisis in Syrian as Moscow's increasing military buildup raised the prospect of coordination between the former Cold War foes.
The Pentagon said the call lasted about 50 minutes and included an agreement for further US-Russian talks about ways to keep their respective militaries out of each other's way.
Washington last year cut off high-level military talks with Moscow after Russia's annexation of Crimea and intervention in Ukraine.
But Russia's military buildup in Syria has raised the possibility of simultaneous US and Russian air combat missions in Syrian airspace.
A US officials said Friday that Russia has recently deployed four fighter jets to Latakia airbase in Syria where it has been building up forces in recent weeks.
The talks came as Russia said it will consider any request from the embattled Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad to send its troops to fight Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
With concerns already growing over Russia’s military presence in war-torn Syria, the comments are one of the clearest indications to date that troop deployments in Syria may be imminent. » | Howard Amos, Moscow | Friday, September 18, 2015
