WASHINGTON, December 3. /TASS/. The US military has activated a communication channel with Russia on the recent developments in Syria, Pentagon Spokesman Patrick Ryder said.

"My understanding is that the CJTFOIR [Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve] commander has used the hotline that we have with Russia to ensure that we have open lines of communication given the fact that we do have forces operating in fairly close proximity as it relates geographically to Syria," Ryder said speaking at a news briefing.

"I won't go into details about those conversations other than we have that communication mechanism to prevent potential miscalculation," he continued. "And again, we'll continue to communicate with countries throughout the region as we continue to monitor in this developing situation."

In June 2023, Ryder said speaking about the Russian-US military communication hotlines regarding Syria that: "These lines of communication still remain open."

On the morning of November 27, the Jabhat al-Nusra extremist group (banned in Russia) launched a large-scale attack on a broad front in northern Syria. According to a statement by the Syrian Armed Forces’ Command, the terrorists attempted to attack villages and towns under the protection of the Syrian army and military facilities, continuing to target government forces' positions. The Syrian army launched an operation to repel the raid.

On November 30, the country’s armed forces’ command stated that the army was conducting strikes on the positions of terrorists who had infiltrated many neighborhoods in the city of Aleppo and was awaiting reinforcements. According to the Syrian Defense Ministry’s statement, the army was forced to reorganize its forces to protect the lives of civilians and troops and prepare for a counterattack.