Russia proposes joint airstrikes with US in Syria

MOSCOW

Russia has proposed that it and the U.S. carry out joint airstrikes with the coalition in Syria starting next Wednesday, May 25, the Russian defense minister said on Friday.

Speaking in the Russian capital Moscow, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said Russia proposed joint action against al-Nusra Front and groups that were not included in the cease-fire agreed to by the Syrian regime and the opposition.

Saying that Russia reserves the right as of May 25 to carry out "unilateral airstrikes" against groups that fail to abide by the ceasefire, Shoigu said they got approval from the Bashar al-Assad regime for the proposal.

A 'cessation of hostilities' was arranged by the U.S. and Russia in February in a bid to de-escalate the five-year conflict and pave the way for peace talks in Geneva between the regime and opposition.

However, Assad’s forces violated the deal with airstrikes and ground attacks.

On Friday, the U.S. and Russia agreed to reinforce a short-term cease-fire in cities where attacks on civilians had risen.