US not coordinating Syria military operations with Russia: White House

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the US would welcome a military contribution from Russia, as long as they were focused on ISIL and Al Qaeda’s presence in Syria. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

The US is not coordinating its military operations in Syria with Russia, the White House said on Thursday amid reports that America is offering Russia some sort of military deal to go after the Islamic State and Al Qaida in the war-torn country.
“The United States is not conducting or coordinating military operations with Russia. I know there are some speculation that an agreement may be reached to do so. But it’s not clear that will happen,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.
“The case that we have made for more than a year now, or at least a year now, is that Russia should use the influence they have with the Assad regime to expedite a political solution to the situation inside of Syria,” he said adding that the political solution involves a transition moving Assad out a power in Syria.