The U.S. general in charge of running the air campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria expressed reservations Tuesday about the prospect of coordinating coalition airstrikes in Syria with the Russians, as envisioned by an agreement negotiated by Secretary of State John Kerry last week.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, head of U.S. Air Forces Central Command, said Russia must first “do the right thing” before joint operations between the two militaries can begin.
“The first step is a cessation of hostilities for seven days. And this is something the Russians and the regime must do, and they must do it properly,” Harrigian said in a video briefing to Pentagon reporters from his headquarters in Qatar.
Harrigian seemed unconvinced the cease-fire would hold the required seven days, which would allow for the possible U.S.-Russian cooperation could begin.
“The intelligence community will continue to monitor the cessation and ensure that we are developing throughout this process to execute the mission,” adding with a note of skepticism, “That is, if we get that far.”
The Pentagon has long harbored doubts about sharing intelligence and coordinating targeting in Syria, especially because Russian warplanes often lack the smart bombs the U.S. relies on to increase accuracy and reduce civilian casualties.
The U.S. believes Russia’s bombing in Syria, which has mostly targeted rebels fighting the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad, has been responsible for thousands of innocent deaths.
When pressed for specifics on how the proposed Joint Integration Center with the Russians would work, Harrigian repeatedly said none of the specifics has been worked out.
“We are in close coordination with U.S. Central Command, and our fellow components to work the details,” he said.
Asked how the U.S.-led coalition air campaign, which relies on rigorous target selection and precision-guided munitions could be integrated with the Russian effort that the Pentagon has characterized as reckless and unprofessional, Harrigian said, “That’s going to be a challenge.”
