Russia to close down Syria comms line

Russia is reportedly closing a communications line with the US in Syria, which is there to avoid accidental clashes in the war zone.

Russia's Defence Ministry has notified the Pentagon it is closing the communications line used to avoid accidental clashes in Syria, Interfax new agency reports citing the ministry spokesman.

Earlier, a senior US official told Reuters Russia has not suspended the military communications channel despite a US cruise missile strike on a Syrian airbase that angered Moscow.

The senior US military officials, who spoke to Pentagon reporters on condition of anonymity, also said US military operations against Islamic State in Syria were unchanged following the cruise missile strike.

The officials said there had been no retaliatory action by Syria or Russia taken against American forces in Syria since the strikes against the Syrian airbase.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev complained the strikes on a Syrian airbase were one step away from clashing with the Russian military.

US officials informed Russian forces ahead of the strikes -- intended to punish the Syrian government for what they say was a chemical weapons attack earlier this week -- and avoided hitting Russian personnel.

Satellite imagery suggests the Shayrat air base that was struck is home to Russian special forces and military helicopters, part of the Kremlin's effort to help the Syrian government fight Islamic State and other militant groups.

Medvedev, writing on social media on Friday, said the US strikes were illegal and had been "one step away from military clashes with Russia".


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Source: AAP



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