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US, Russia keep using deconfliction channels to prevent incidents in Syria — Pentagon

The deconfliction channel that links Al Udeid and Russia’s Hmeymim military base in Syria is in daily use despite the current strain in Russian-US relations

© AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

WASHINGTON, April 11. /TASS/. The armed forces of Russia and the United States keep using special deconfliction channels to prevent incidents both in Syria’s airspace and on the ground, a spokesman for US Air Forces Central Command, Lt. Col. Damien Pickart, has told TASS.

"I can confirm <...> that the deconfliction line at the CAOC [Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar] remains in use and continues to offer a constructive mechanism with which to mitigate risk and miscalculation," he said.

According to Pickart, the deconfliction line that links Al Udeid and Russia’s Hmeymim military base in Syria is in daily use despite the current strain in Russian-US relations, caused by reports of another chemical incident in Syria and Washington’s attempts to blame it on the Damascus government. Russia strongly rejects those accusations.

"There are daily calls, but it varies as to how many times based on ongoing operations by either side," the US military official said.

"Separate of deconflicting air operations, there is a ground line, but I can’t speak for how frequently that is used," he added. "CJTF-OIR [Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve] would have details on that."

The US-led Operation Inherent Resolve is being carried out in Iraq and Syria since 2014.

CJTF-OIR was not immediately available for a comment.

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