Russian Offer to Share ISIL Targets With US-Led Coalition Gets No Response

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Russia has proposed sharing the coordinates of possible ISIL targets with the US-led anti-ISIL coalition, but has not received a response, Colonel-General Andrei Kartapolov, head of the Main Operations Directorate of the Russian General Staff, told media at a press briefing on Wednesday.

"This means that either our partners do not have such coordinates, or that they for some reason do not want us to hit these targets. The reason for this remains unclear to us," Kartapolov said, cited by RIA Novosti.

The officer also noted that Russia has repeatedly been forced to cancel planned strikes on militants after finding them hiding among the civilian population.

SU-24 aircraft. File photo - Sputnik International
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"We have not yet had to cancel our planned strikes on militants due to the terrorists leaving their bases and camps after finding out about our plans. However, as a rule, they have tended to hide in the vicinity of population centers and religious institutions," Kartapolov explained. 

Nonetheless, the officer complained, Russia's armed forces continue to face groundless accusations of carrying out strikes against civilian targets and mosques.

"I declare with complete responsibility that we are not looking at any objects in civilian settlements as possible targets," the officer emphasized.

"#Kartapolov: I declare with complete responsibility that we are not looking at any objects in civilian settlements as possible targets."

Late last month, Russia began a campaign of airstrikes against ISIL positions in Syria following Syrian President Bashar Assad's request for military assistance.

On Wednesday, ships from the Russian Caspian Sea Fleet launched cruise-missile attacks on targets in northern Syria.

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