Pentagon readies talks with Russia on Syria operations

U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin walk into their meeting room at the United Nations General Assembly in New York September 28, 2015. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Tuesday directed his staff to open lines of communication with Russia's military as Washington and Moscow explore ways to ensure the safety of rival operations in Syria's limited airspace, the Pentagon said.

"The purpose of these de-confliction discussions will be to ensure that ongoing coalition air operations are not interrupted by any future Russian military activity," said Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook.