U.S. officials say Russia has begun conducting air strikes in Syria, just hours after the upper house of parliament approved a request by President Vladimir Putin to deploy military forces in support of the government of Bashar al-Assad.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a Russian military official had notified the United States of the planned strikes near the western city of Homs. The notification came two days after Putin met with U.S. President Barack Obama in New York to seek closer coordination of military activities in Syria.

A Russian government spokesman said on state television that the vote in parliament authorized the Russian air force to act in Syria.

Russia has been building up its forces in Syria, with bombers, jets and troops arriving in northwest Syria in recent weeks, according to Pentagon officials.

Growing role

 
On Monday, Putin addressed the growing role of Russia in Syria, telling the United Nations General Assembly that the Assad’s forces are “valiantly fighting terrorism face to face” and that refusing to cooperate with them is “a huge mistake.” He criticized the West for arming “moderate” rebels in Syria, who, he said, joined forces with the Islamic State group.

Earlier, Putin said in an interview on U.S. television that Moscow is intensifying its work with President Assad and also Russia’s other partners in the region, but said he has no plans to deploy combat troops, adding, “at least, for now.”

Putin has said Assad should remain in power in order to fight terrorism.

 

US disagrees

But the United States has been pushing for Assad to step aside. President Barack Obama told the U.N. General Assembly that Assad “drops barrel bombs on his people,” and called for a transition away from his rule. 

“Defeating ISIL requires, I believe, a new leader and an inclusive government that unites the Syrian people in the fight against terrorist groups,” Obama said.

Obama and Putin agreed during their meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly Monday to start military conversations on a “practical and tactical level” about activity inside of Syria, according to a White House official.

Coalition activity

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has directed the Pentagon staff to communicate with Russia about coalition activity in Syria, in order to avoid any mistaken encounter between coalition and Russian forces there.

The talks aim to ensure that coalition actions against the Islamic State in Syria are “not interrupted by Russian activity,” said to Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook.

VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this report.
…