Sharing intelligence with Russia unwise, says top US general

A US-Russian brokered ceasefire for Syria reached earlier this month included provisions for the joint targeting of IS in addition to the distribution of aid. However the truce deal came crashing down following the targeting of a Syrian Arab Red Crescent aid convoy in the Aleppo suburb of Urum al-Kubra on Monday night.

Fighting has since resumed on several fronts in Syria’s civil war with the Syrian regime embarking on a new assault of rebel-held Aleppo on Thursday.

US intelligence officials have pointed to evidence suggesting Russian involvement in the attack.

The text of numerous ceasefire related documents were published by the US State Department on Thursday. It notably contained a statement saying that the US and Russia would "share intelligence and develop actionable targets for military action" against the al Qaeda-linked group Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, in addition to calling for "independent but synchronized efforts" in the fight against Islamic State.

I do not believe it would be a good idea to share intelligence with the Russians - US Marine General Joseph Dunford

However Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the US military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, suggested on Thursday that such military coordination would be limited, stating that the US military had no intention of forging an intelligence sharing agreement with Russia.

"I do not believe it would be a good idea to share intelligence with the Russians," Dunford told the Senate Armed Services Committee, without elaborating further.

US critics of the ceasefire deal hazarded that by working with Russia, Washington could become implicated in any misconduct perpetrated by Moscow in the war.

The old Cold War enemies stand on opposite sides of the war, now in its sixth year, with Russia militarily supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the US providing limited military aid to the opposition.

The US has also heavily criticised Russia for causing civilian casualties as a result of, what Washington views as, crude and indiscriminate bombing campaigns. US intelligence officials also have reservations about sharing precise information on the locations and movements of US backed rebel forces that Russia has previously targeted.

Republican Senator John McCain, head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also criticised the possibility of future military cooperation with Russia referring to US Secretary of State John Kerry, who negotiated the ceasefire deal “delusional”.

"It would mean that the US military would effectively own future Russian airstrikes in the eyes of the world," McCain said.

Documents released by the State Department said the US and Russia would share information on training camps, weapons storage facilities, and the locations of personnel from Jahat Fatah al-Sham.

Speaking on the subject of Monday’s aid convoy attack in Urum al-Kubra Dunford called it an “unacceptable atrocity”.

"I don't have the facts. What we know are two Russian aircraft were in that area at that time. My judgment would be that they did (it)," Dunford said, adding that a Syrian government role could not be completely ruled out.

Russia has baulked at claims of its involvement. In an interview with AP conducted in Damascus on Wednesday Assad also denied Russian culpability or that his regime was involved instead suggesting that “militants” and “terrorists” were behind the attack.