Baladi News – (Mona Ali)
US and Russian military officials stated on Wednesday their coordination in the Syrian sky was resumed intensively.
However, it seems that their discord on the ground has not decreased yet and may even increase in the coming days due to the support provided by the Russian forces for the regime and Iranian militias on their way towards al-Tanf border crossing.
Amid this coordination and discord, the United States and Russian seem to have preferred to deal with the Syrian case in phases and according to priorities. Raqqa battle is currently supported by both parties; The head of the Central Command of the US Air Force Jeffrey Harrigan said yesterday that the forces of the "International Coalition" in Syria strengthened their coordination with Moscow because of the accumulation of airspace over al-Raqqa, after the process of liberalization of the region had entered its fourth phase in reference to the process of "Anger of the Euphrates" backed by Russia and the United States.
The coordination over al-Raqqa was also emphasized by the Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Schweigo, who announced before the Duma a massive coordination with Israel and Jordan in southern Syria.
However, Schweigo revealed that the urgent priorities of Russia in Syria include the consolidation of the de-escalation agreement and drafting a constitution of the country.
Nevertheless, the Russian priorities seem to be in a different direction than those Washington, its European allies, and Turkey, who insist on gradually mitigating the Iranian control over Syria until it is diminished and ended. In addition, whereas Trump’s administration emphasizes the importance of removing Assad and his inner circle, Russia seeks to draft a constitution that returns his legitimacy.