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| Syria informed in advance of U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State | Syria informed in advance of U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State |
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| BEIRUT — Syria was informed by the United States in advance of airstrikes against targets including Islamic State strongholds, a Syrian statement said Tuesday, marking a rare display of coordination between Washington and the government of President Bashar al-Assad. | |
| The outreach to Syrian officials suggests an important shift by the United States and its allies — including key Arab partners — which have given diplomatic and limited military support to rebel groups seeking to overthrow Assad. | The outreach to Syrian officials suggests an important shift by the United States and its allies — including key Arab partners — which have given diplomatic and limited military support to rebel groups seeking to overthrow Assad. |
| The expansion of U.S.-led airstrikes into Syria could now open new channels to Assad’s government, which last year faced possible Western air attacks over claims of chemical weapon use by the Syrian military. | The expansion of U.S.-led airstrikes into Syria could now open new channels to Assad’s government, which last year faced possible Western air attacks over claims of chemical weapon use by the Syrian military. |
| It also reflects attempts by the White House to avoid disputes that could hamper the widening confrontation against the Islamic State and other factions such as the al-Qaeda-inspired Khorasan group. | It also reflects attempts by the White House to avoid disputes that could hamper the widening confrontation against the Islamic State and other factions such as the al-Qaeda-inspired Khorasan group. |
| Among Assad’s backers is Iran, which is strongly opposed to the Islamic State but has so far remained outside the international coalition being assembled. It’s unclear whether Iran also was informed in advance of the airstrikes. But Russia, another ally of Assad’s government, complained Tuesday that the attacks violated international law. | Among Assad’s backers is Iran, which is strongly opposed to the Islamic State but has so far remained outside the international coalition being assembled. It’s unclear whether Iran also was informed in advance of the airstrikes. But Russia, another ally of Assad’s government, complained Tuesday that the attacks violated international law. |
| The Syrian state news agency SANA said that the United States had informed Syria’s representative to the United Nations that it would carry out airstrikes. A letter from Secretary of State John F. Kerry also was delivered to Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, on Monday, informing him of the United States’ intention to target Islamic State positions “some of which are in Syria,” the news agency said. | The Syrian state news agency SANA said that the United States had informed Syria’s representative to the United Nations that it would carry out airstrikes. A letter from Secretary of State John F. Kerry also was delivered to Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, on Monday, informing him of the United States’ intention to target Islamic State positions “some of which are in Syria,” the news agency said. |
| Syria had previously said that it would consider strikes against Islamic State targets on is territory an act of aggression unless they were carried out in coordination with Damascus. | Syria had previously said that it would consider strikes against Islamic State targets on is territory an act of aggression unless they were carried out in coordination with Damascus. |
| Moallem stressed that air strikes in Syria would have limited success without collaboration with forces on the ground, SANA reported. The comments appeared an effort to further bolster strategic coordination with Washington despite Obama’s proposal to aid “moderate” rebels as proxy fighters against the Islamic State. | Moallem stressed that air strikes in Syria would have limited success without collaboration with forces on the ground, SANA reported. The comments appeared an effort to further bolster strategic coordination with Washington despite Obama’s proposal to aid “moderate” rebels as proxy fighters against the Islamic State. |
| An activist in Syria, Abo Jilan, said 18 airstrikes were carried out in the north-central city of Raqqah. | An activist in Syria, Abo Jilan, said 18 airstrikes were carried out in the north-central city of Raqqah. |
| “Seven of them hit the main headquarters’’ of the Islamic State and left it “hugely damaged,” said Jilan, who runs the group Raqqah is Being Silently Slaughtered. | “Seven of them hit the main headquarters’’ of the Islamic State and left it “hugely damaged,” said Jilan, who runs the group Raqqah is Being Silently Slaughtered. |
| Murphy reported from Washington. | Murphy reported from Washington. |