Washington is not considering carrying out joint operations with Moscow against Daesh, US Department of State spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Wednesday.

The United States will remain in close contact with Russia regarding efforts to fight terrorist groups in Syria like the Islamic State (IS, or Daesh) and the Nusra Front, Kirby added.

“There has to be a level of communication here and there is. And this is largely between the Russian military and the Defense Department. There are no joint being operations being conducted,” Kirby stated in a press briefing.

Kirby noted that he knows of no US plans to begin specific joint operations, “but we are going to stay in close touch with Russian officials moving forward in terms of how best to counter groups like al-Nusra and Daesh in Syria.”