Senior administration officials declined to discuss details of the proposal, saying that publicizing the content of diplomatic talks would undermine their possible success. But Obama has blessed efforts to persuade Russia to change its policies, including the intelligence offer. Weeks later Russia – which has long sought more coordination with the West in Syria – proposed joint airstrikes against Jabhat-al-Nusra with the U.S.-led coalition that is bombing ISIL positions. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, are not parties to the truce. Although U.S. officials were dismissive, the proposal unsettled U.S.-backed opposition representatives, who feared a backroom U.S.-Russia deal.

Source: National Post July 01, 2016 18:45 UTC