The United States will continue its air campaign in Syria unchanged, despite close calls with Russian aircraft, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Thursday.
“We will continue to prosecute the counter-ISIL air campaign at the same pace and in the same battle space as we have since it started in Syria,” Carter said, using an alternate acronym for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Carter’s remarks come a day after defense officials revealed U.S. aircraft have had to change course to avoid colliding with Russian planes over Syria.
Last week, Russia started airstrikes in Syria. The Kremlin has said it intends to target ISIS and other terrorist groups on the country.
But the State Department said Wednesday that 90 percent of Russia’s airstrikes have targeted rebels fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a Russian ally.
Russia also ramped up its actions in Syria this week by violating Turkish airspace, launching cruise missiles from ships in the Caspian Sea and initiating a joint ground offensive with the Syrian regime.
“This will have consequences for Russia itself which is rightfully fearful of attack upon Russia,” Carter said. “And I also expect that in the coming days the Russians will begin to suffer causalities in Syria.”
Carter also reiterated his warning that Russia’s actions will “inflame and prolong” Syria’s four-year-old civil war.
In addition to sticking with the air campaign, Carter said the United States would continue to reach out to Russia to establish safety procedures for pilots from both countries.
“And we will leave the door open for Russia to rejoin the track toward a political transition in Damascus,” Carter added.