Russia, U.S. planes carry out "communications test" in Syria

PanARMENIAN.Net - One Russian and one American plane have carried out a "planned communications test" in the skies over Syria, U.S. officials say, according to BBC News.

The Pentagon said the test lasted around three minutes and was designed to "validate the safety protocols" agreed last month.

Last month both countries' planes entered the same "battle space" and came within miles of each other. After this a deal was signed to avoid clashes between the two air forces.

The test was conducted in "south central Syria" and "assured that the first time this mode of communication was used would not be during an unplanned encounter," a Pentagon statement said.

A senior Russian military official said the test was designed to "to train crews and ground services for incidents of dangerous proximity of aircraft".

In September, Russia started carrying out air strikes against rebels in Syria, after Damascus suffered a string of defeats at the hands of both rebel forces and the Islamic State (IS) group.

Last week world powers - including key Assad ally Iran for the first time - met in Vienna and agreed to renew efforts to end the conflict.

The ministers agreed to ask the United Nations to start a process that could lead to a ceasefire and new elections. New talks are due in two weeks.