Ash Carter

Carter: US not cooperating with Russia against Islamic State

Carter also said that no collaboration is possible as long as Moscow continues to strike other targets.

He said the U.S. will limit its discussions with Russia to basic, technical talks about efforts to ensure that flights over Syria are conducted safely and, "That's it."

Carter: US not cooperating with Russia against Islamic State

Carter also said that no collaboration is possible as long as Moscow continues to strike other targets.

He said the U.S. will limit its discussions with Russia to basic, technical talks about efforts to ensure that flights over Syria are conducted safely and, "That's it."

VIDEO: Russia Attacks May Have Hit Non-IS Areas, says Carter

Carter made the comment at a Pentagon news conference, where he offered few details about the strikes but said they point out a contradiction in Russia's approach. He said the Russians should not be supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad's government.

Carter also expressed disappointment that the Russians did not use formal channels to provide the U.S. with advance notice of its airstrikes.

US warns Russia against striking non-IS groups in Syria

Kerry told the United Nations Security Council that the U.S. would not object to Russians hitting Islamic State or al-Qaida targets but airstrikes just to strengthen the hand of Syrian President Bashar Assad would be worrisome.

"It does appear they were in in areas where there probably were not ISIL forces," Carter said of the Russian airstrikes, using an alternative acronym for Islamic State. He would not go into more detail.

The Latest: US seek talks with Russia about Syria air raids

Peter Cook said it was not yet clear when these talks would start or who would participate.

Kerry: Russian fighter jets in Syria raise serious questions

U.S. officials say Russia moved a small number of fighter jets to a base in Syria on Friday, hours after U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter talked with Russia Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in the first military contacts between the two countries in some time.

"Clearly, the presence of aircraft with air-to-air combat capacity ... raises serious questions," Kerry said, responding to a question after meeting with British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond.

Carter: US airstrike kills senior Al-Qaida commander

The airstrike killed Abu Khalil Al-Sudani on July 11, Carter said in a brief statement given to reporters traveling with him in Iraq.

Carter called Al-Sudani a senior shura member and head of Al-Qaida suicide and explosive operations, and said he is directly linked to plots to attack the United States.

He said Al-Sudani also directed operations against coalition, Afghan and Pakistani forces, and maintained a close association with Ayman Al-Zawahiri, the leader of Al-Qaida.