Trump could work with Russia to defeat IS: Spokesperson

WASHINGTON, United States (Kurdistan24) – The new United States administration on Monday said President Donald Trump was ready to cooperate with Russia and conduct military air strikes against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria.

In his first daily press briefing, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer stated Trump was willing to “work with any country that [shared interest] in defeating [IS].”

“I think that if there’s a way we can combat [IS] with any country, whether it be Russia or anyone else, and we have a shared national interest in that, sure, we’ll take it,” he continued.

On Monday, Russia’s Defense Ministry revealed a “coordinated strike against [IS] targets near al-Bab in northern Syria had already taken place,” according to a report by the Independent.

Meanwhile, Spicer said the claims that two US-led coalition aircrafts and two Russian warplanes that destroyed ammunition and fuel depots in Syria were “rubbish.”

US Air Force Colonel John Dorrian added the reports were a propaganda tool used by Russia.

During his election campaign, President Trump said he wanted to defeat IS “quickly” and even referred to a “top secret plan” against the insurgent group.

Additionally, reports emerged on Monday suggesting the US President’s administration was working with the country’s military chiefs on a new plan to defeat IS.

Former US President Barack Obama’s administration previously hinted at a US-Russia military offensive against the extremists.

However, talks were suspended with Moscow after an aid convoy was bombed near the city of Aleppo during a ceasefire agreement.

Russia, though, remains optimistic President Trump will pave the way for “international cooperation” to end the conflict in Syria.

Editing by Ava Homa