{"id":39253,"date":"2017-09-21T18:35:39","date_gmt":"2017-09-21T18:35:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/09\/21\/us-russian-militaries-hold-unprecedented-talks-on-syria\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:26:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:26:40","slug":"us-russian-militaries-hold-unprecedented-talks-on-syria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2017\/09\/21\/us-russian-militaries-hold-unprecedented-talks-on-syria\/","title":{"rendered":"US, Russian militaries hold unprecedented talks on Syria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Senior American and Russian military leaders met for an unprecedented, face-to-face session somewhere in the Middle East this week to discuss the growing tensions in the competing battles to retake one of the remaining Islamic State strongholds in Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Syrian government forces, Russian special forces and U.S.-backed militants are all battling IS around the oil-rich Deir el-Zour province. The talks are aimed at ensuring safety for all the different fighting elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meeting, however, also suggests an expanded U.S. and Russian effort to coordinate their efforts, raising questions about how the Pentagon is adhering to an American prohibition against military-to-military cooperation with Moscow. Congress enacted that law in the wake of Russia\u2019s annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army Col. Ryan Dillon told Pentagon reporters on Thursday that U.S. and Russian general officers shared maps, graphics and information about where their forces are battling around Deir el-Zour. He would not provide details on when or where the meeting occurred, beyond saying it took place in recent days somewhere in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\t