The announcement suggests cooperation on the highest levels between Moscow and Tehran, both key allies of the embattled president. A US official said, however, that discussions with the Russians are still ongoing and no agreement is close. Russia and the United States have been discussing greater coordination for striking extremists in Syria, but they have been unable to reach agreement on which militant groups could be targeted. Russia has criticised what it describes as US reluctance to persuade the Syrian opposition groups it supports to withdraw from areas controlled by al-Nusra Front in Syria. The Russian defence ministry released a video showing a Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bomber dropping bombs in strikes described as “terrorist objects in Syria”.

Source: The Guardian August 16, 2016 09:08 UTC