Despite officially denying any cooperation, Russia and the US secretly coordinate their air campaigns in Syria through Tel-Aviv to avoid collisions of aircraft, according to intelligence sources speaking to Israeli media.

Last Thursday, Russia�s Ministry of�Defense announced the creation of�a "hot line" between�the Russian and Israeli militaries. That channel provides both parties with�a direct link in�order to�avoid incidents between�aircraft over�Syria.

"The first stage of�training was conducted yesterday [Oct. 14] on�cooperation between�Russian air forces and the Israeli air force to�avoid dangerous incidents in�the sky above�the Syrian Arab Republic," a statement from�the ministry read.

On Sunday, personnel from�both militaries continued that coordination, practicing the procedures necessary for�avoiding accidental collisions.

According to�military and intelligence sources speaking to�Debka File, Arab-speaking flight controllers will likely stand ready on�Russia�s end of�the hotline at�Al-Hmeineem air base near�Latakia. Russian-speaking officers will man Israel�s end, and according to�Israeli media, Western air controllers will use that hotline to�coordinate their own aircraft, rather than�establish their own direct channels with�Moscow.

Communication is vital in�the increasingly crowded skies over�Syria. Russia�s anti-terror campaign began on�September 30, and has since�carried out�hundreds of�sorties against�the self-proclaimed Islamic State terrorist group.

The US-led coalition has continued its own bombing campaign, though without�the authority of�the legitimate government of�Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. While no collisions have yet taken place, there have been close calls.

But despite�air traffic concerns, Washington has refused Moscow�s offers to�establish a similar hotline.

"We�re not interested in�doing that, as�long as�Russia is not willing to�make a constructive contribution to�our counter-ISIL effort. Russia has its own agenda right now that they�re pursuing on�their own," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.

"So it�s not particularly surprising to�me that President Putin would resort, in�some desperation, to�try to�convince us to�join them. But the fact is that is a request that�s fallen on�deaf ears."

In reality, however, the US is coordinating actions of�its aircraft with�Russia, but�is doing so through�Israel instead of�establishing its own direct "hot line" with�Moscow, according to�Israeli intelligence and military sources speaking to�Debka File. Due to�political reasons, however, the US can't admit it, insisting that the two nations continue to�endanger their pilots by�not informing each other about�their military flights.

On Sunday, the US and Israel also began a massive military exercise known as�Blue Flag. Including US, Israeli, Greek and Italian air units, those drills will last for�two weeks, adding even more air traffic to�already overcrowded airspace.

By Sputnik News Agency