Syria conflict: US proposes cooperation with Russia to target terrorist groups

The Obama administration is looking for a joint approach with Russia to plan its air strikes against the terrorist groups in Syria in exchange for Moscow putting an end to attacking US-backed rebels. The US is reported to have proposed the plan earlier this week pressing Russia to stop Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from bombing the moderate rebels and civilians in the country, and to coordinate air strikes between the US and Russia in targeting the al-Nusra Front and Islamic State (Isis).

In Syria's multi-sided war, Assad and his ally are targeting the main opposition groups, who are moderate rebels backed by the US, and both the sides are fighting to get rid of militants backed by al-Qaeda and the Isis. However, many US officials and critics feel that Russia may not agree to America's proposal.

According to The Washington Post, this "enhanced information sharing" does not include joint military planning or coordination with US air strikes but it would give scope for cooperation to target the militant groups. It is also meant to ensure that Russian and American planes do not run into each other in Syrian airspace.

While the proposal was reportedly approved personally by President Barack Obama, Defence Secretary Ash Carter initially opposed any cooperation talks with the Russians.

"If the Russians would do the right thing in Syria – that's an important condition - as in all cases with Russia, we're willing to work with them," the newspaper quoted Carter as saying.

"The Russians got off on the wrong foot in Syria," he added.

The US has declined comment on the proposal fearing that stating it publicly might undermine its potential success.

Moscow has always justified its air strikes against the moderate rebels, backed by the US, as it sees them as terrorist groups mingled with the al-Nusra front. Washington's efforts to separate its allies from the main rebel fighters have been in vain. The US has been fighting to arrive at a political transition in Syria involving a post-Assad government.

However, Chris Harmer, an analyst from the Institute for the Study of War is sceptical about the proposal, and told Reuters: "The idea the moderate rebels will separate themselves from Nusra is just not going to happen. It (the administration plan) is a Hail Mary pass that is dead on arrival. It's staggering to me that anybody even at year five of this civil war thought this would be a good idea."