UPDATE - US to offer Russia new proposal on Syria: leaked reports

ADDS US STATE DEPARTMENT REACTION

By Esra Kaymak Avci

WASHINGTON (AA) – The U.S. will soon offer Russia a new military pact for fighting Daesh and al-Qaeda affiliated groups in Syria, according to media reports Thursday.

An eight-page leaked document was published by the Washington Post and called for "joint bombing operations, a command-and-control headquarters and other synchronized efforts," the Associated Press said.

"U.S. and Russian officials with expertise in intelligence, targeting and air operations will 'work together to defeat' the extremist groups," according to the AP.

The document said both countries "should coordinate procedures to permit integrated operations" if they decide such operations are in their interests.

Russia would limit its air strikes to some certain targets and not let the Syrian regime to bomb "designated areas", AP said, noting, however, that some exceptions apply.

The headquarters of the U.S.-Russian "Joint Implementation Group" would be near Amman, Jordan, AP added.

Secretary of State John Kerry is currently on a two-day visit to Moscow where he will meet with senior Russian officials to discuss Syria and other issues.

According to the AP, Kerry declined to comment on the leaked document and said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he will meet Thursday, would have "plenty of time to talk about it".

But Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said joint U.S.-Russian efforts are key to fighting terrorism in the region.

A State Department spokeswoman would not confirm the leaked document but said there was no present "coordinating military operations with Russia.

"It's not clear we'll reach an agreement to do that," said Elizabeth Trudeau. "Our position on Assad has not changed."

Trudeau added that the U.S. believed it was time that Russia decided if it was "serious about advancing its purported goals in Syria."

A joint U.S.-Russia operation would alter the U.S. approach to the conflict in Syria, which has entered its fifth year.

The U.S. has been critical of Russia -- the main backer of the Syrian President Bashar Assad – since it began military actions in Syria last September.

Assad's airstrikes have killed hundreds of civilians and struck humanitarian facilities.

The U.S. has said it would move to a "plan B" option for Syria if Russia did not use its leverage to force Assad to abide by a “cessation of hostilities” deal agreed to earlier this year that calls for a nationwide cease-fire.

"This could get a lot uglier," Kerry had said during a congressional hearing in March.