1st LD: Russia, U.S. to hold military-to-military talks on Syria: Pentagon

Russia and the United States are expected to hold military-to-military talks on Syria, where both countries have been conducting airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) militants, as soon as this weekend, the Pentagon said Friday.

"The Department of Defense has received a formal response from the Russian Ministry of Defense regarding DOD's proposal to ensure safe air operations over Syria," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said. "Department leaders are reviewing the Russian response and talks are likely to take place as soon as this weekend."

The response came as Russian's airstrikes in Syria that began last week had raised U.S. concerns that possible clashing in the air could happen, as the U.S.-led coalition continued to combat the IS in Syria.

The U.S. also accused Russia of conducting the crowded and sometimes uncoordinated air raids in Syria, saying Russia is mainly striking Syria's anti-government rebels in support of its ally, President Bashar al-Assad.

However, Moscow has denied such allegations, saying that it has no political agenda in Syria and that its bombing of the IS positions is in line with the U.S. priority.

The first round of talks, held on Oct. 1, between defense officials in Moscow and Washington to discuss how to de-conflict air operations between the two countries brought little result, according to U.S. media.

The U.S. State Department said Tuesday Washington is prepared to resume de-confliction talks with the Kremlin on military operations in Syria, as the risk of a potential clash between U.S. and Russia aircraft increased.

"We've seen over the last couple of days the danger that exists on the ground of accidental incursions," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said at a regular briefing. "So we need to absolutely engage with Russia on de-conflicting." Endit