Pentagon: the US will continue its flights in Syria including over ‘security zones’ established by Russia
The Coalition forces headed by the US will strike at the Islamic State anywhere in Syria, including in the security zones established by Russia, Turkey and Iran, Interfax news agency reports citing a Pentagon representative.
Earlier, Russia, Turkey and Iran signed a memorandum on the establishment of security zones in Syria. According to the memorandum, check points and observation centers will be established along the borders of these security zones.
While answering the question whether the Coalition will stop the flights over these security zones, the Pentagon official said that the Coalition will carry on with its operations as usual.
"The Coalition will continue to strike ISIS, wherever they operate, to make sure they have no safe retreat," the official stated, answering the question whether the US was prepared to cease the flights over these security zones in Syria.
At the same time, the Pentagons representative noted that the US continues to "effectively prevent incidents while carrying out the Coalition operations".
He added that he would not go into the details of how such work was carried out "in the complex and busy military situation in Syria".
Earlier, Russian Military stated that they stopped the use of aircraft in Syria, namely the in areas identified by the memorandum on the security zones.
Russian officials have also indicated that the flights of the Western Coalition aircraft will not be allowed over the security zones.
“The flights of the Coalition aircraft in the zones of de-escalation in Syria will not be permitted, as the guarantor countries (Russia, Turkey and Iran) will closely monitor all activities in those areas,” said Alexander Lavrentyev, the Russian President's special envoy and Russian Chief Negotiator on Syria in Astana.