In sign of U.S. alarm, Washington and Moscow begin talks over Syria conflict

American officials are seeking to understand Moscow’s aims in its expanding support for the Assad regime.
Secretary of State John F. Kerry meets with United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed in London about the ongoing Syrian crisis. (Pool/Reuters)

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By Carol Morello and Missy Ryan September 18 

LONDON — Defense chiefs from the United States and Russia held their first direct talks in more than a year Friday, reflecting Washington’s mounting alarm about Russian military escalation in Syria and how it might affect the fight against the Islamic State.

The 50-minute phone call between Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu caps weeks of concern about Moscow’s moves to make its military support to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad more effective.

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In Sign of U.S. Alarm, Washington and Moscow Begin Talks Over Syria Conflict by Thavam Ratna