The secure communications channel that allows U.S. and Russian officials to coordinate activities in Syria is still open, two senior military officials said Friday, contradicting Russian reports that the two sides were no longer talking.

The hotline was established in 2015 so the two countries’ aircraft could operate over Syria without colliding, and to prevent friendly-fire incidents on the ground. News surfaced on several Russian websites Friday morning that Russia had suspended communications following the U.S. missile strike on Shayrat air base in Syria.

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