The White House isn’t ruling out an offer from Russia to begin jointly planning and carrying out airstrikes against al-Nusra Front, as well as other militants groups in Syria that are not observing a ceasefire.
But a White House spokesman said Friday that if Russia really wants to help maintain a ceasefire, it can lean on the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad to stop his violations of the accord.
“We believe that if Russia wants to do something to take on al Nusra and ISIL, the first thing on their to-do list is to make sure that the Assad regime is abiding by the cessation of hostilities,” deputy White House press secretary Eric Schultz told reporters during his daily briefing.
“Clearly the turmoil and chaos there is what provides a fertile breeding ground for ISIL to conduct its operations,” he added when asked if he would rule out cooperating with Russia. “Our goal is for Russia to urge [Assad] to abide by the cessation of hostilities but we’re not going to comment on further steps at this point.”
Earlier Friday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu offered to coordinate and stage joint airstrikes on al-Nusra Front and other groups and suggested that the military action could begin May 25 and be coordinated with the Syrian government.
Shoigu, who made comments during a Russian Defense Ministry meeting broadcast on state television Friday, said Moscow could also move forward with the strikes unilaterally.
Washington has steadfastly refused to join any Russian operation coordinated with the Syrian government. Since September, when Russia began its campaign of airstrikes in Syria, the Pentagon has worked with Moscow to ensure that its bombing in Syria does not conflict with Russia’s in a way that could cause confusion and potential combat between the two countries in that air space.
Russia supports the Assad government while the United States and its allies in the West and the Gulf region back the groups trying to push him from power.
Both sides, however, oppose the al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra front, which did not participate nor agree to the ceasefire hashed out in late February.
