DIPLOMATIC DIVIDE

Russia Launches More Strikes in Syria

Washington, Moscow agree to talks.

Russian forces carried out a second series of airstrikes against targets in Syria on Thursday, according to media reports. The strikes reportedly targeted rebel positions in the northwest controlled by an alliance known as the Army of Conquest, according to Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen TV. The alliance includes the al-Nusra Front and the hardline Islamist group Ahrar al-Sham, along with several other moderate Islamist groups, which are all battling ISIS. On Wednesday, the U.S. and Russia agreed to meet “as soon as possible” to discuss airstrikes after Moscow carried out about 20 missions. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has ordered the U.S. military to open lines of communication with the Russian forces to avoid conflict during airstrikes in Syria, the Pentagon confirmed. Washington has alleged that some Russian strikes have targeted American-backed rebels battling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.