US denies Russian air defenses are hampering IS fight

The US military on Friday denied reports that Russia's placement of air defense systems in Syria have hampered the US-led coalition's efforts to bomb Islamic State jihadists in the war-torn country.

Russia has sent surface-to-air missiles to Aleppo in northern Syria, Baghdad-based military spokesman Colonel Steve Warren said.

"We've openly discussed the presence of both Russian and Syrian air defense systems in northern Syria, (but) I can tell you there has not been a significant disruption to our operations," Warren told Pentagon reporters in a video call.

"We conduct strikes in northwestern Syria continually."

Several media outlets had reported that the Russian missiles were "painting" coalition aircraft -- in other words, tracking them with radar.

"I have seen some of those reports and I'll tell you they are largely inaccurate," Warren said.

"We are continuing to conduct flights, both manned and unmanned ... We are continuing to strike everywhere that we want to strike. Simple."

Washington last month expressed concerns after Russia deployed advanced S-400 anti-aircraft missiles to Latakia in northwestern Syria, in a move that came after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet along the Syrian border.

Warren said Russia had also deployed an SA-17 ground-to-air missile system in Aleppo.

Since August 2014, the United States has led a coalition against IS jihadists in Iraq and Syria.

Russia entered the Syria conflict in September, when it began bombing rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad. Russia says it is attacking the IS group and other "terrorists."

Though coalition and Russian planes generally operate in different parts of the country, military officials fret about the possibility of an unintended clash between the two sides.