Russia proposes joint strikes with US to target al-Nusra

The Kremlin has proposed coordinated attacks with the US against al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria.

1 min read

20 May, 2016

Russian airstrikes in Syria targeted civilian areas [Getty]

Russia and the US-led coalition should launch joint action against the Nusra Front in Syria, the Kremlin's defence minister has proposed.

Moscow is putting forward a plan to Washington that they encourage all militants willing to abide by a cease-fire in Syria to leave areas where Nusra, al-Qaeda's local affiliate, is present - before May 25.

Russia and the US-led coalition would then conduct joint strikes against Nusra and any other groups refusing to honour the truce, said Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday.

The US-Russia-brokered cease-fire has helped reduce violence in Syria, but it has been steadily eroding.

The Islamic State group and the Nusra Front have been excluded from the cease-fire, and Russia has long pushed for the exclusion of other militant groups that have cooperated with Nusra.

Despite their proposed intention of targeting Nusra and IS, since their full-scale intervention in Syria, Russian airstrikes have hit many civilian targets, including hospitals, in opposition-held areas