WASHINGTON —
The Trump administration on Monday opened the door to cooperating with Russia “or anyone else” to combat the Islamic State group in Syria, suggesting it could reverse a previous refusal to coordinate military action with Moscow as long as it backs the Syrian government.
“I think if there’s a way that we can combat ISIS with any country, whether it’s Russia or anyone else, and we have a shared national interest in that, sure, we’ll take it,” White House press secretary Sean Spicer said.
Asked if the openness extended to working with Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has been condemned internationally for killing civilians, Spicer said, “We’re not going to get together with people under the guise of defeating ISIS if that’s not truly their guise.” He added, “So let’s not take that too far.”
Spicer also suggested that Trump already has told Defense Secretary James Mattis to change the U. S. approach to fighting the Islamic State.
“I think he has ordered it,” Spicer said, adding that Trump would discuss the matter with Mattis during a visit to the Pentagon Friday.
“At that time, he will continue to have conversations about what he wants from them and the joint chiefs,” he added, referring to the military service chiefs.
During the more than two years that President Barack Obama directed U.
