A Russian plan to create “de-escalation zones” inside Syria would not impact US operations against ISIS inside that country, the coalition said Wednesday. Last week, Russia announced a proposal, along with Iranian and Turkish officials, to create “de-escalation zones” in Syria to reduce conflict between Syrian government forces and rebels. Syrian officials said Tuesday they support the proposal, but oppose international forces to control them, NPR reported. The proposed zones are not “affiliated very closely with areas where we are historically striking ISIS,” Air Force Col. John Dorrian, spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, told reporters during a Wednesday briefing. The plan is “not really a coalition issue.” The coalition is continuing its deconfliction talks with Russia, despite Russia briefly pulling their support for the channel earlier this year. “We’ll continue deconflicting and taking the actions that we need in order to strike ISIS anywhere on the battlefield where their fighters and their resources can be found,” Dorrian said.
As commander of Air Forces Central, Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich has been at the heart of almost all U.S. military action in the Middle East, from overseeing airstrikes against Iranian proxy groups to protecting troops as America’s air defense commander for the region. Just before handing over his command to…