Moscow (AFP) - Moscow on Friday proposed that Russia and United States, which have been flying separate bombing campaigns in Syria, launch joint air strikes against jihadists from next week, a proposal the Pentagon swiftly rejected.

"We are proposing to the US, as the head of the International Syria Support Group, to take part as of May 25 in joint operations between the Russian air force and the air force of the coalition," Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said in televised comments.

Shoigu said that the proposal included strikes against Jabhat al-Nusra and other illegal armed groups that do not support a frail truce brokered by Moscow and Washington in February.

He also proposed that joint strikes target "convoys containing weapons and ammunition (and) armed units that illegally cross the Syrian-Turkish border."

"We believe that adopting these measures will ensure the transition to a peace settlement process over all of Syria's territory," Shoigu said. "Of course, the leadership of the Syrian Arab Republic has agreed to these measures."

Hours later Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis rejected Moscow's proposal, saying the US military does "not collaborate or coordinate with the Russians on any operations in Syria."

- Russia 'enabling' Assad -

"Russian operations are supporting and enabling the Assad regime and our focus is solely on degrading and defeating ISIL," Davis said, referring to the Islamic State jihadist group.

Davis added that the Pentagon had received "nothing formal" from its Russian counterpart regarding the proposal.

Russia and the United States pledged earlier this month to redouble efforts to find a solution to the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions since 2011, and extend a truce across the war-torn country.

Despite diplomatic efforts to resolve the five-year conflict, Moscow and Washington have been critical of each other's bombing campaigns in Syria.

The West has accused Moscow -- a staunch supporter of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad -- of propping up the regime by targeting rebels fighting Assad in strikes Moscow said were aimed against "terrorist" organisations.

Moscow has in turn repeatedly slammed the US coalition, saying its strikes in Syria have been ineffective.

Shoigu said Friday that Russia would reserve its right to unilaterally strike "international terrorist and illegal armed groups that have not adhered to the cessation of hostilities" starting from May 25.

President Vladimir Putin surprised the West in March by announcing the partial withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria, saying Moscow's task in the war-torn country had been "on the whole" completed.

The Pentagon said Wednesday that Russia's military strength in Syria had barely changed since the partial withdrawal was announced.

Baghdad-based US military spokesman Colonel Steve Warren said that Russia had established some sort of forward operating base outside Palmyra, the ancient city Syrian forces recaptured in March from Islamic State jihadists with the help of Russian air strikes and special forces.

The Russian defence ministry denied that it was building a base in Palmyra, saying its military installations in the area are a "temporary camp" used for demining operations.

All conciliatory moves, proposal for cooperation in fighting terrorism together and arriving at a detente emanating from the Kremlin has been turned down.

History will judge

How can you propose a joint operation with another military when there is a big difference in objectives?

Missy89:
How can you propose a joint operation with another military when there is a big difference in objectives?

My luv, do you agree with me that ww3 will erupt from Syria due to Amerika's sheer stupidity, lies, arrogance, aggression & misplaced priority?

Zoharariel:


My luv, do you agree with me that ww3 will erupt from Syria due to Amerika's sheer stupidity, lies, arrogance, aggression & misplaced priority?

That is a great exaggeration

Except there's an alignment in objectives.The United States won't accept this proposal.

@Missing 89, I used to hold u in high esteem because of ur solid grasp of warfare complexities bt I am getting a whole nauseating view of who u truly re, try to be objective in ur thinking nd statements,don't be in support of things just because u want to spite some people who don't underpin ur line of reasoning or philosophy.

MONITZ:
@Missing 89, I used to hold u in high esteem because of ur solid grasp of warfare complexities bt I am getting a whole nauseating view of who u truly re, try to be objective in ur thinking nd statements,don't be in support of things just because u want to spite some people who don't underpin ur line of reasoning or philosophy.

I dont care about your feelings. I dont know you.

How do you expect the US military to cooperate with Russia when they both have different views and designs on the future of Syria? If they cant agree on that, Why should they be bombing together?

Zoharariel:


My luv, do you agree with me that ww3 will erupt from Syria due to Amerika's sheer stupidity, lies, arrogance, aggression & misplaced priority?

i think syrian case is still very small but part of the ww3 strategy which usually starts with little wars here and there or you can call it proper war but not as explosive as world war 1. In world war one , you had them fighting each other mainly in Europe. ww2 was too glaring, because out of 5 hitler soldiers that died, 4 kicked the bucket of war in soviet front. Soviet union lost about 27m in that 2nd world war.

It was when the soviet pushed hitler back the remaining 20% came from the west. These are historical facts.

The Anglozionist empire is trying to spark the same scenario that is re-playing the same game it played in Ww2. You have the lines drawn already in ukraine just the same way it drew the lines during the 2nd world war against soviets before Hitler went haywire.

Now the good news again is, you have France not responding to the Zionist dictates or brussels, Even germany is not ready to be used again.
WHo are those ready ? The baltics, Romania, Poland, Czech.. These are the new Eru iku ready to act as shield and just die for nothing.

In any case, what the U.s is doing now is building smaller wars here and there so it will unleash the main war pretext at the right time. Now you see it mouting its soldiers and stockpiles in the Baltics. It wants front. South China sea..

With the way i am looking at it, within 5 years from now World war is set.

The good newsagain is Russia is checkmating all the moves the empire is taking.
What we are seeing now is just testing ground and spying or countering techniques. Usually the invading party is trying to find out what it needs to counter. Meanwhile Russia is not hiding majority of what it will use to fight the war. Except that we now know of Armata tanks and other new techs.

In any case, Russia will win this war hands down even with the level of its tested weapons. The empire is all out against those who does not do as its says. That alone will destroy the empire. Attacking France again for the second time. France and Egypt this time. Shows the empire is falling and there is fire on the mountain.

@Missy 89,u don't have to know or care about how I feel bt the very least u can do is to be objective and reasonable enough when u see a laudable suggestion.

MONITZ:
@Missy 89,u don't have to know or care about how I feel bt the very least u can do is to be objective and reasonable enough when u see a laudable suggestion.

You did not answer my question thou. Why should the US military work with Russia when they both have different objectives? What is laudable about that? The same Russia was issuing a demarche few months ago.

The US won't accept the offer to bomb their " liver eating, ak-47 wielding, wahabist indoctrinated, moderate". After all, weapons handed to US trained " free stupid army" usually end up in the hands of ISIS and JAN. That's what you get when you don't have clear objectives in such a conflict. You want Assad out and still wants to fight ISIS at the same time, really confused bunch of mofos!