Russia's Quick Jump Into Syria Leaves Obama With Few Options
- Sudden launch of airstrikes caught U.S. officials short
- U.S., UK, France, Gulf nations demand end to strikes on rebels
President Barack Obama delivers remarks to state legislators on Sept. 30, 2015, in Washington.
Photographer: Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
After Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin walked out of a tense 90-minute meeting in New York, U.S. officials expected direct military-to-military consultations with the Russians to avoid a conflict over the skies of Syria.
Instead, they got a one-hour notice to stay out of the way and no details on targets as Russian aircraft struck inside Syria for the first time on Wednesday, adding a new risk for the U.S. and its coalition partners battling Islamic State.