US-Russia calls increase to avoid air mishaps in Syria
WASHINGTON—US military phone calls with Russia have increased as the two countries work to avoid aircraft mishaps in the increasingly crowded skies over Syria, a senior American Air Force commander said Wednesday.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, who is in charge of US air operations in the Middle East, also told Pentagon reporters that the US has been setting up temporary "deconfliction" zones around Syria. Military operations by Russia, the Syrian government or its allies are essentially restricted in those zones so American and US-backed forces are protected.
