Russia has ‘agreed’ with US on Syria strategy

Russia said it had agreed with the US on the need to improve co-ordination between their military operations in Syria. They are backing opposing sides of a civil war and launching air strikes.

Moscow’s intervention on the side of President Bashar al-Assad, alongside Western backing for rebel groups and attacks on IS targets, has raised the risk of a wider international confrontation in the war.

Russia’s defence ministry said military officials from both countries had agreed on the need to improve co-ordination.