Skeptical Pentagon weighs cooperation with Russia

A deeply skeptical Pentagon was weighing plans Monday for limited collaboration with longtime foe Russia in Syria, but officials stressed any cooperation depends on Moscow's actions over the coming days.

Under a truce deal announced last week by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, the two powers would begin to jointly target jihadists if Syria's latest cessation of hostilities lasts for seven days.

But Pentagon officials are alarmed at the prospect of sharing even limited information with Russian counterparts, and many have zero expectations Moscow will honor its terms of the peace deal.

Under a deal announced last week by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, the two powers would begin the joint targeting of jihadists, if Syria's latest cessation of hostilities lasts for seven days ©Fabrice Coffrini (AFP/File)

"Everyone is prepared for rapidly implementing this agreement if it crosses that threshold, but we are also ready to walk away if it doesn't hold," a US defense official said.

"There's a lot of plans, but it still hasn't come together."

AFP talked to several officials inside and outside the Pentagon about the possible US-Russian military cooperation. All spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing plans.

As it currently stands, US officials envision establishing a "Joint Implementation Center" to share targeting information for air strikes.

The center would be in Geneva, and the Pentagon will ensure no intelligence on how it acquires targets is shared with Russia.

Rather than conducting any sort of joint air strikes, the sharing would -- at least initially -- be limited to exchanging target lists, officials stressed.

A second US defense official said plans remain very preliminary. Even if the truce lasts seven days, the Pentagon won't necessarily immediately begin collaborating with Russia.

"The timeframe is short, but there's a gulf of trust that's larger than the timeframe," the official said.

- Coordinate on IS targets -

Under the truce, which took effect Monday evening, the Syrian regime must refrain from fighting in areas where "moderate" rebels are deployed.

As well as bringing a temporary end to the fighting, the deal aims to provide crucial aid to hundreds of thousands of desperate civilians.

Areas with the presence of the Islamic State group and Fateh al-Sham Front, previously known as Al-Nusra Front, will not be subject to the ceasefire.

Russian and US-led coalition forces would then begin to coordinate on IS and al-Sham targets.

"I have no reason to be very optimistic that this (truce) will hold. If it does, then it's our obligation to make this work as best we can," the first defense official said.

Russia entered Syria's brutal civil war in September last year, conducting air strikes for Assad and helping the president remain in power.

At the same time, the United States has led a broad military coalition combatting IS in northern Syria and in Iraq.

- No modern precedent -

To prevent coalition and Russian planes flying into each other in Syria's crowded air space, the two sides have already agreed on a "memorandum of understanding" through which they could avoid any midair mishaps.

But the new deal would take communications several steps further, as the two sides have not shared target details before.

Officials said there is no precedent this century of the United States and Russia collaborating like this.

Many in the Pentagon are deeply uneasy, given the frequent disconnect between Russia's words and apparent facts on the ground -- such as in eastern Ukraine, where Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to deny backing the 28-month pro-Moscow insurgency.

"The proof will be in the pudding," a third defense official said.

"We'll know soon enough one way or another. Either they will (honor the truce) or they won't, and we will react accordingly."

Pentagon chief Ashton Carter is dubious. Ahead of the truce announcement last week, he said Russia has a "clear ambition to erode the principled international order."

Pentagon officials have been especially troubled by Russia's use of "dumb" bombs -- unguided munitions with limited accuracy -- throughout its campaign, resulting in repeated claims of mass civilian casualties.

Another US defense official said it was "absolutely" key that any military collaboration "takes prevention of civilian casualties into account as a high priority."

Center for a New American Security Middle East experts Ilan Goldenberg and Nicholas Heras said Monday that civilian casualties were the new truce's most significant issue.

"There is no mechanism to punish the Assad regime and Russia if they conduct attacks against civilians, continue to refuse humanitarian assistance access to besieged opposition communities, or return to the systematic targeting of US-supported and acceptable armed opposition groups," the pair wrote in a statement.