US President Barack Obama has authorized surveillance flights over Syria, a precursor to potential airstrikes against Islamic State positions.  The White House is trying to find a way to target the Sunni extremists without helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. 

Syria’s foreign minister Walid al-Moallem says that his government wants to cooperate with international efforts to fight the Islamic State, who are in control of large swaths of Syria and northern Iraq.  It sets up the slim possibility that the US could in some way wind up cooperating with Assad government, only months after the US considered selling arms to the Syrian rebels in order to overthrow the regime in Damascus.

“It is inconceivable to me that the United States would coordinate with the Syrian government in any way,” said Steven Simon, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute and a former White House adviser to President Obama on the Middle East.  “How can we see over the mountain of bodies that they have created?”

Apparently one body is changing the administration’s focus – that of American photojournalist James Foley who was beheaded by Islamic state.  The killing sparked outrage in Washington, and brought new urgency to the Islamic State problem.  But it may not be enough to overcome the revulsion Washington holds for Assad, who is considered a sponsor of terrorism.  Syria’s chemical weapons attacks on its own people, and the use of barrel bombs on civilians are still fresh in mind.

In July, American Special Operations forces carried out an unsuccessful rescue attempt for hostages held by ISIS, including the journalist Foley.  On Monday, Syria said that mission would have succeeded if the US had coordinated with the Assad regime.

Officials say the US surveillance flights would involve a combination of aircraft, including drones and possibly U2 spy planes.