ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Russian military has suspended its communications hotline with the United States, Moscow announced on Friday night, less than 24 hours after the United States launched cruise missiles targeting Shayrat air base in Syria.
"About an hour ago, the US military attache in Moscow was summoned to the Defense Ministry to get an official note, which said the Russian side was suspending as of 00:00 hours on April 8 the observance of its obligations under the memorandum of understanding on prevention of incidents and ensuring of flight safety in the course of operation in the Syrian Arab Republic," the Russian TASS news agency reported Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov as saying.
The United States and Russia had been communicating to de-conflict in their stated shared goal of defeating ISIS in Syria since 2015.
The US wants to keep communications open with all actors in Syria to minimize risk, according to a US Department of Defense spokesperson.
"It is to the benefit of all parties operating in the air over Syria to avoid accidents and miscalculation, and we hope the Russian Ministry of Defense comes to this conclusion as well," The Associated Press quoted Lt. Col. Michelle L. Baldanza as saying on Friday.
The Russian air force has been backing Syrian government forces.
US President Donald Trump had said Shayrat air base had been targeted for its role in a chemical weapons attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun.
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