US, Russia should unite against Daesh

Terrorism needs a common response. If only Russia and the US could work together.

Tartous and Jableh, two sleepy towns of Syria away from the fireworks of the six-year long civil war, were rocked by attacks on Monday. The towns on the Mediterranean coastline house a naval base and an airbase, manned by the Russians. Reports say more than 100 people were killed, and the minority Alawites was targeted in a suicide attack. Daesh is believed to be behind the attacks, and this underscores the need to fight a common foe. The fact that civilian facilities were targeted in a strategic area is a message to the regime in Damascus that terrorists are on the loose and free to choose their target. Russia, which has supported Syria, had called for joint military strikes with the United States against Daesh targets, but the US has cold-shouldered the proposal.
This attack has come at a time when the government and the opposition were seen struggling to restart United Nations-backed peace talks. More than six million people are classified as internally displaced by the world body. Damascus and other stakeholders will have to address the political dispute through talks, and take out the militants as soon as possible. Terrorism needs a common response. If only Russia and the US could work together.