Defense Secretary Ash Carter was described as “hot” over a Thursday attack in Syria which Russian jets bombed a staging area where anti-Islamic State fighters had gathered, and then ignored an urgent U.S. request to stop.
But when Carter faced Pentagon reporters Friday afternoon, he was restrained, even subdued, in questioning the Russian action.
“This was an attack, first of all on forces, that were fighting ISIL and obviously that is the first thing that is problematic about this Russian conduct,” Carter said at an event honoring hackers who took part in the Pentagon’s “bug bounty” pilot program.
“If that was their intention, that was the opposite of what they said they were going to do.” Carter said.
“If not, it says something about the quality of information upon which they make airstrikes.”
Carter did not say if he believed the attack was intentional, and simply ignored a question about what action the U.S. might take in response.
Sources say at least two Russian Su-34 “Fullback” fighter-bombers hit the gathering point in southern Syria near al-Tanf, an area where Russia had not been active for some time.
“They weren’t bombing there, they had no reason to,” a senior official said earlier in the day.
The Syrian forces at the staging area included fighters who had been trained and armed by the United States in Jordan, and then sent back into Syria to fight the Islamic State.
The official says after the initial strike, the U.S. military used a special hotline that had been established to avoid confrontations to urgently ask the Russian military to stop bombing the U.S.-backed forces.
But after the call, Russian planes bombed again, infuriating U.S. officials.
But in his public remarks Carter was understated, saying simply “The channel we have to communicate with them in instances like this wasn’t professionally used.”
A senior defense official was more blunt. “There are only two explanations,” he said. “Either poor command and control, or it was intentional.”
Thursday night a different Pentagon official said: “Russia’s latest actions raise serious concern about Russian intentions. We will seek an explanation from Russia on why it took this action and assurances this will not happen again.”
But Carter was less confrontational. “We’re trying to clarify the facts and use that channel with the Russians to find out what went on there.”
