US changes disposition of Coalition aircraft in Syria, wants to restore de-confliction hotline


nsnbc : The U.S.’ Department of Defense responded to Russia’s suspension of the de-confliction cooperation after a U.S. F-18 shot down a Syrian SU-22 in Raqqa, by changing the disposition of U.S.-led coalition warplanes in Syria. U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dunford noted that the U.S. would work with Russia to restore the direct incident prevention hotline.

Incirlik Airbase_Turkey_US F-16 at Incirlik_(archives)Pentagon spokesman Adrian Rankine-Galloway commented on Russia’s suspension of the de-confliction hotline after the downing of a Syrian SU-22 by a U.S. F-18, saying:

“As a result of recent clashes with Syrian pro-regime and Russian forces, we took precautions to change the disposition of the aircraft in Syria in order to continue fighting Islamic State, while maintaining safety of our pilots – considering the known threats on the battlefield”.

He added that:

The U.S. are always ready to work with the Russians on incident prevention to maintain safety of the Coalition ‘s pilots during combat operations. … The direct channel on conflict prevention has proved its effectiveness in terms of decreasing the probability of strategic miscalculations and de-escalating tensions”.

The Defense Department did not specify what exactly the “changed disposition” implies. Meanwhile, the U.S.’ Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joseph Dunford, said that the United States is going to work with Russia through diplomatic and military channels in order to restore the incident prevention (de-conflicting) hot-line.

S-400 battery, here deployed in Syria to protect Russian military assets.

S-400 battery, here deployed in Syria to protect Russian military assets.

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced Monday afternoon that Moscow suspends its communication channel with the United States under a memorandum to avoid incidents between Russian and U.S.-led coalition jets in Syria. The decision came after a Syrian SU-22 was shot down in Raqqa. The Ministry stated:

“As of June 19 this year, the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation has ended its interaction with the US side under a memorandum for preventing incidents and providing for safe flights during operations in Syria and demands that the US command carry out a careful investigation and report about its results and the measures taken. … The shooting down of a Syrian Air Force jet in Syria’s airspace is a cynical violation of Syria’s sovereignty. The US’ repeated combat operations under the guise of ‘combating terrorism’ against the legitimate armed forces of a UN member-state are a flagrant violation of international law, in addition to being actual military aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic. … Any aircraft, including planes and drones of the international coalition, detected in the operation areas west of the Euphrates River by the Russian air forces will be followed by Russian ground-based air defense and air defense aircraft as air targets.”

The Ministry maintained, that at the moment the Syrian warplane was hit by the US fighter, Russia’s Aerospace Forces were carrying out missions in Syria’s airspace, but that the coalition command did not use the existing communication line between the air commands of Al Udeid Air Base (Qatar) and Khmeimim Air Base to prevent incidents in Syria’s airspace. The Ministry also stated:

“We consider the actions of the US command as a deliberate default on their obligations under the memorandum on preventing incidents and providing for safe flights during operations in Syria signed on October 20, 2015.”

The General Command of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), reported on Sunday that the air force of the “international coalition” targeted one of the army’s warplanes in al-Rasafah region in the southern countryside of Raqqa, while it was carrying out a combat mission against ISIS, causing the plane to go down. The pilot was reported as missing.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), for their part, stated that “On June 18, pro-Syrian regime forces attacked SDF forces in the town of Ja’Din, south of Tabqa, wounding a number of SDF fighters, and driving the SDF from the town. The SDF stated that following the attack in Ja’Din, the coalition contacted its Russian counterparts by phone, using a “de-conflicton line” to de-escalate the situation and stop the firing.

The US-led coalition stated “At 6.43 p.m a Syrian regime SU 22 dropped bombs near SDF fighters south of Tabqa and, in accordance with rules of engagement in collective self-defense of Coalition-partnered forces, was immediately shot down by a US F/A-18E Super Hornet”. The “Coalition” also stated that Ja’Din is located about two kilometers from an established SDF – Syrian government de-confliction zone.

CH/L – nsnbc 20.06.2017

Related background articles:

Moscow suspends Russia – US “de-confliction channel” in Syria after downing of Syrian SU-22
US-led coalition downs Syrian jet in “de-confliction zone” near Raqqa: Pilot reported missing
U.S.-backed Iraqi forces capture Al-Waleed border crossing to Syria, deny Iranian-backed fighters access
Syria: U.S. aircraft downs drone operated by “pro-regime forces” in al-Tanf
US Air Strike in al-Shahima, Syria: Regressing into lawlesness under UN cover?

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Source Article from https://nsnbc.me/2017/06/20/us-changes-disposition-of-coalition-aircraft-in-syria-wants-to-restore-de-confliction-hotline/

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