Russia Floats Proposal That Both The U.S. And Russia Jointly Operate U.S. Base In Syria. Coalition Says No

Members of 5th Special Forces Group conduct .50-cal weapons training during counter-ISIS operations at Al Tanf Garrison in southern Syria. (Staff Sgt. Jacob Connor/Army)

Military Times: Russia asked to joint operate a US base in Syria. Coalition says hard pass.

Russian officials have reportedly floated the idea of jointly running a U.S.-controlled corridor known as Al Tanf, located on the Iraq-Syria border near Jordan, where U.S. troops are garrisoned.

The American-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State, though, said they are not interested.

Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian military’s General Staff, said the presence of American military bases on Syrian territory is a major unresolved issue for his forces.

“Let’s take Al Tanf, for example," he said Wednesday at a foreign policy briefing. “The United States established the so-called 55-km security zone around this community, and illegal armed groups continue their terrorist activity under its cover, making periodic sorties against the government forces.”

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WNU Editor: I am surprised that Russia made this proposal. I am not surprised that the U.S.-led coalition said no.