Russia Should ‘Properly’ Integrate With Anti-ISIL Efforts in Syria - US

Russian military operations in Syria need to be appropriately integrated with the US-led coalition’s campaign to defeat the Islamic State, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said during a press briefing on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earnest’s remarks come after the Russian upper house of parliament unanimously approved President Vladimir Putin’s request to deploy the Russian Air Force to launch anti-Islamic State airstrikes in Syria.

"If a Russian offer is made that is constructive when it comes to cooperating with a broader international coalition to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL [Islamic State], we would readily accept it. They [Russian forces] need to be properly integrated with all of the other efforts that are underway there."

The Kremlin noted that Putin made his request to the Russian parliament at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Earlier on Wednesday, US Defense Department officials alleged that Russian airstrikes hit targets in Syria where "there were probably no Islamic State militants."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to ignore Pentagon allegations about Russian military operations in Syria because, "It's all been said by the Russian Defense Ministry."

Following Russia’s decision, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Washington would welcome Moscow’s contribution to fight the Islamic State if its military campaign was "genuine," and not aimed at only helping Assad.

Kerry and Lavrov are expected to hold more talks regarding Moscow’s air operations against Islamic State militants in Syria, Earnest added during Wednesday’s White House briefing.