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A2 UP FRONT
Saturday 11 November 2017
US, Russia seek understanding on next steps in Syria

By JOSH LEDERMAN The United States had mal meeting?” Secretary paths again. forces are operating at any
MATTHEW LEE hoped that if the coun- of State Rex Tillerson said Russia and the U.S. have given time, officials said.
Associated Press tries could show signifi- Thursday in Beijing. maintained a “deconflic- The agreement also seeks
WASHINGTON (AP) — As cant progress on a major The Russians told report- tion” hotline for years to to build on progress in es-
the Islamic State group tablishing “de-escalation
nears defeat, the United zones” in Syria that have
States and Russia are dis- calmed some parts of the
cussing next steps that country. In July, when Trump
could prevent the two mili- held his first meeting with
tary powers from inadver- Putin in Germany, the U.S.
tently clashing in Syria and and Russia announced a
improve prospects for an deal that included Jordan
end to the country’s brutal and established a cease-
civil war. fire in southwest Syria. The
Fears about how the messy United States has said that
array of forces active in cease-fire has largely held
Syria may collide have and could be replicated
grown as IS loses its last ma- elsewhere in the country.
jor stronghold and the fo- A key U.S. concern, shared
cus shifts back to Syria’s in- by close ally Israel, is
tractable conflict between the presence of Iranian-
President Bashar Assad’s backed militias in Syria that
government and opposi- have exploited the vacuum
tion groups. For the U.S. and of power. The United States
ally Israel, a key concern is and Israel have been seek-
that foreign powers such as ing ways to prevent forces
Iran will now dominate the loyal to Iran — Israel’s arch-
country’s future. enemy — from establishing
U.S. officials said an agree- Russia’s President Vladimir Putin attends the APEC-ASEAN dialogue, on the sidelines of the APEC a permanent presence.
ment under discussion in re- summit, in Danang, Vietnam, Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. (Jorge Silva/Pool Photo via AP) One idea hinges on a “buf-
cent days would focus on fer zone” along Israel’s bor-
three elements: “deconflic- global issue, it could serve ers such a meeting was avoid unintended collisions der with Syria.
tion” between the U.S. and as the basis for a meeting likely and that the time and even potential con- Yet U.S. and Russian inter-
Russian militaries, reducing between Trump and Pu- and place were being ar- frontations as they each ests diverge when it comes
violence in the civil war tin, who could then discuss ranged. But talks stalled. operate in Syria’s crowded to Iran’s role in Syria. Teh-
and reinvigorating U.N.-led and announce it during a Blaming scheduling con- skies. A heavy air cam- ran, like Moscow, has been
peace talks. The officials summit in Vietnam. flicts, White House Press paign by Russia has been staunchly backing Assad,
weren’t authorized to dis- In behind-the-scenes ne- Secretary Sarah Huckabee credited with shoring up as it works to establish a
cuss the deliberations and gotiations, the two sides Sanders told reporters that the position of Assad, a corridor stretching from Iran
requested anonymity. tried to formulate some the meeting was off just close ally of Moscow. through Iraq and Syria and
Yet it was unclear whether framework of a deal, two minutes before Air Force With IS nearing defeat, the into Lebanon.
the U.S. and Russia would administration officials said. One touched down in Viet- U.S. and Russia are losing A third element of the deal
ultimately reach any un- Though North Korea and nam. their common enemy in would reaffirm support for
derstanding. the Ukraine were discussed, Still, the leaders shook Syria and will remain in a the United Nations effort
“Why are you asking the focus was on a Syria hands Friday on the side- proxy battle in which Russia being run out of Geneva
me? Ask the Americans,” agreement. lines of the summit, and backs Assad and the U.S. to seek a political transition
snapped Russian Foreign “We have been in contact Sanders said it was possible lends at least rhetorical sup- in Syria and resolve the civil
Minister Sergey Lavrov after with them, and the view Trump and Putin could in- port to armed opposition war. The United States and
a potential meeting Friday has been if the two lead- teract in an informal setting. groups fighting the govern- Russia have been at odds
between President Donald ers are going to meet, is Both Trump and Putin also ment. That has increased for years over whether
Trump and Russian Presi- there something sufficiently plan to be in the Philippines the need for close commu- Assad could be allowed to
dent Vladimir Putin was substantive to talk about later in the week, where it’s nication between the two remain in power in a future
scrapped. that would warrant a for- possible they could cross powers about where their Syrian government. q

US military: Annual Gulf exercise at risk over Qatar crisis

By JON GAMBRELL simulate working as a mul- risk over the monthslong boycott while closing off The Qatar diplomatic crisis
Associated Press tinational force in battle, is dispute. the energy-rich nation’s has torn apart the typically
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- being examined in light of “We continue to look at land border and its air and clubby GCC, a regional
ates (AP) — A U.S. Air Force the crisis, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey L. each and every exercise sea routes. The quartet of Arab bloc created in part
general warned Friday that Harrigian said. and have discussions,” said Arab nations pointed to as a counterbalance to
a major annual military ex- This year’s Eagle Resolve Harrigian, who oversees Air Qatar’s alleged support of Iran.
ercise between Gulf Arab exercise, held in Kuwait in Force Central Command in extremists and overly warm The U.S. military holds ex-
countries and America is March, involved 1,000 U.S. Qatar. He acknowledged ties to Iran. Qatar long has ercises in part to build the
at risk over the ongoing troops. that includes Eagle Re- denied supporting extrem- confidence of local forces,
diplomatic crisis engulfing Another leadership course solve. ists and shares a massive many of which use Ameri-
Qatar. already has been can- The Qatar crisis began offshore natural gas field can-made equipment.
Eagle Resolve, which sees celled over the crisis, Har- June 5, when Bahrain, with Tehran that makes its U.S. and Gulf allies also
countries in the Gulf Coop- rigian said. The Associated Egypt, Saudi Arabia and citizens have the highest have regularly held joint,
eration Council send forces Press in October first re- the United Arab Emirates per-capita income in the smaller-scale exercises in
alongside Americans to ported exercises were at launched an economic world. the region.q