US and Russian militaries launch talks on Syria

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said President Barack Obama's administration was willing to hold "tactical, practical discussions" on operations in Syria and the fight against Daesh.

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter had a 50-minute conversation with his Russian counterpart over Moscow's military buildup in Syria.
Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook says Carter and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had a constructive discussion and talked about areas where the interests of their countries converge.
Cook says the two men agreed to talk more about how to deconflict the US and coalition military campaign against Daesh militants in Syria with Russia's recent moves to send equipment and personnel to the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
The US has called for Assad to step down and the Russian military aid works against that aim.
US-Russian military relations were suspended after Russia annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine, but that does not disallow conversations between leaders.
Earlier today, US Secretary of State John Kerry said during a visit to London on Friday that the US hoped that "military-to-military" discussions with Russia on the conflict in Syria will begin very shortly,
"The president believes that military-to-military conversation is an important next step and I think hopefully it will take place very shortly," Kerry said after talks with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed.
"Obviously our focus remains on destroying Daesh and also on a political settlement with respect to Syria," he added.
The White House said Thursday it was open to limited talks with Moscow following what Washington believes is the deployment of Russian troops and heavy weapons to war-torn Syria.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said President Barack Obama's administration was willing to hold "tactical, practical discussions" on operations in Syria and the fight against Daesh.
The decision signals a newfound willingness to engage with Russia, after months of giving President Vladimir Putin the cold shoulder over his actions in Ukraine.
Putin has provided vital support to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad throughout a popular uprising against his regime and as the conflict has metastasized into a brutal civil war that has killed 240,000 people and displaced four million.
But Moscow has also sought to portray Assad's army as a bulwark against rebels, including Daesh.
Washington and European states view Assad as a pariah who shoulders blame for driving Syria into chaos and allowing Daesh to thrive.
But with Western efforts to tackle Daesh floundering, and the moderate Syrian opposition losing ground to radical groups, the White House may hope to enlist Russia in the fight.

• MENA