NATO warns Russian action in Syria risks "an incident"

NATO voiced concern Tuesday that Russia's air attacks in Syria creates the risk of "an incident getting out of control," as Moscow and the US-led international coalition pursue different military objectives in the country.

"It's clear that Russian objectives and their air operations over Syria and those of the anti-ISIL (ISIS) coalition are not the same," said NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow.

"So that does increase the risks of an incident getting out of control," he told reporters in Lisbon on the margins of a defence industry forum.

Moscow began air strikes in Syria last month in cooperation with the government in Damascus and says it is targeting ISIS group and other "terrorists".

But the United States -- which is leading a separate bombing campaign in coordination with other Western and Middle Eastern states -- has accused Russia of chiefly targeting moderate rebel groups battling President Bashar al-Assad....
 AFP
ahram.org.eg
20/10/15
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Related:

•  Russia's defense ministry said Tuesday it had received a memorandum from the U.S. military on preventing mid-air incidents over Syria, where Russian and U.S. air forces are flying separate missions...