A Russian Sukhoi SU-24 bomber takes off from the Hmeimim airbase in the Syrian province of Latakia on Oct. 3, 2015. (Photo: Alexander Kots, AFP/Getty Images) 
 
 The Pentagon said Wednesday that it had to reroute a U.S. aircraft over Syria on at least one occasion to maintain a safe distance from Russian aircraft, which are now conducting airstrikes in the war-torn country. 
 
 "There has been at least one instance where we've had to modify the route of one of our planes in order to maintain adequate airspace separation with a Russian aircraft," Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said. 
 
 The Pentagon and Russian officials have had at least one meeting to begin discussing procedures that could be implemented to avoid any mishaps between aircraft from the U.S.-led coalition and Russian warplanes. 
 
 "We will keep the channel open because it's a matter of safety and security for our pilots," Davis said. 
 
 The Pentagon has said the talks are limited to discussing procedures for avoiding mishaps and are not aimed at achieving broad coordination with the Russians on military goals. 
 
 "We have not agreed to cooperate with Russia, so long as they continue to pursue their mistaken strategy and hit these non-ISIL targets," Davis said, using an acronym for the Islamic State. 
 
 The Pentagon has not released details about rerouting the aircraft, but CBS News on Monday quoted Lt. Gen. Charles Brown, commander of the American air campaign, saying Russian aircraft had not gotten closer than 20 miles to American manned aircraft. 
 
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 There has been at least one close encounter between a Russian aircraft and a U.S. aircraft over Syria, forcing the U.S. to re-route that aircraft to avoid a conflict, the Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday. 
 
 Moscow's unexpected move to launch airstrikes in Syria has brought the greatest threat of an accidental clash between Russian and Western forces since the Cold War. Russian warplanes as well as those of the United States and its allies are now flying combat missions over the same country for the first time since World War II, raising concerns about potentially dangerously crowded airspace. 
 
 The U.S. continues to conduct airstrikes over Syria, but the missions are "not unabated" as the U.S. had been saying in recent days, Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis told reporters during a briefing on Wednesday. The manned U.S. aircraft was within 20 miles of a Russian aircraft. 
 
 He did not elaborate on exactly when and where in Syrian airspace the incident occurred. 
 
 The U.S. has "a high level of situational awareness" of the airspace above Syria, Davis said, and American military officials have "taken some actions to ensure safe separation of aircraft." 
 
 Related: Russia Fires Missiles as Syria Launches Ground Offensive 
 
 Davis said this latest incident occurred since the U.S. and Russia had their "deconfliction" talk last week. As of now, the next deconfliction discussion is not yet scheduled with Russia yet. 
 
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 Davis' remarks came as two U.S. defense officials confirmed Russian warships had fired long-range missiles into Syria from the Caspian Sea. Neither official could say if the U.S. was notified about Moscow's decision to launch the missiles for the first time. 
 
 Russia's air campaign over Syria has heightened tensions between Moscow and the officials in Washington have questioned whether Russia is using a stated campaign against ISIS to help shore up embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. 
 
 The two senior defense officials said that Russians are using their artillery batteries and multi-launch rocket systems in support of thousands of Assad regime forces conducting ground operations to take back rebel-held areas in the west. 
 
 Russian strikes continue to target primarily the al Ghab Valley, essentially Hama, but they have struck as far as Aleppo and there was at least one strike as far east as Dayr al-Zawr which was likely against an ISIS target. Both officials characterized that strike as a one-off to keep up the claim that they are striking ISIS. 
 
 U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Wednesday became the latest high-ranking official to publicly question Russia's strategy, saying Wednesday that it was "tragically flawed" on Moscow's part. 
 
 Related: Pentagon Confirms Russia Build Up in Syria 
 
 Two senior defense officials said the Pentagon continues to tracking the escalation of Russian military activity in Syria. 
 
 Russia has four warships in the Caspian Sea. They are firing Kaliber missiles — long-range, land attack cruise missiles similar to a Tomahawk. This marks the first time the Russians have ever used the Kalibers other than in training. 
 
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 Neither official could say how many Russian troops are in Syria now, but both said the Russians are using their artillery batteries and multi-launch rocket systems in support of thousands of Assad regime forces conducting ground operations to take back rebel-held areas in the west. 
 
 One official said that the Russians are "leveling stuff" and said the strikes seem to be "indiscriminate". 
 
 Neither official could say whether the U.S. was notified that the Russian missiles would fly over Iraq or whether there were any close calls with U.S. aircraft flying in that country. ||||| Story highlights With Russia operating in Syria, U.S. pilots have orders to change flight paths if there is a Russian plane within 20 nautical miles 
 
 The diversion was the first since Russia began military operations in Syria at the end of last month 
 
 Washington (CNN) The U.S. military diverted two aircraft over Syria to ensure they could maintain a safe flying distance from a Russian fighter aircraft in the same area, according to Captain Jeff Davis, Pentagon spokesman. 
 
 It was the first time the U.S. needed to do so since Russia began military operations in Syria at the end of last month. 
 
 The two planes were F-16s that had departed from Turkey's Incirlik air base and were on their way to a location near the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, a senior defense official told CNN. The U.S. aircraft that diverted were not able to complete their mission, the official said. 
 
 Since the Russians began operating in Syrian airspace, U.S. pilots have been under orders to change their flight path if there is a Russian plane within 20 nautical miles, according to the official. 
 
 Davis said the incident happened in the last few days but offered few additional details. 
 
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– A Russian military aircraft was too close for comfort in the skies above Syria, forcing two US F-16s to move out of the way and scuttling their mission, CNN reports. The Pentagon made the announcement Wednesday but would only say the incident occurred in the past few days. All US pilots have been warned to keep 20 nautical miles away from any Russian plane over Syria. With Russia beginning airstrikes in country Wednesday, NBC News states there is "the greatest threat of an accidental clash between Russian and Western forces since the Cold War." According to the network, it's the first time Russian and US military aircraft are flying combat missions over the same country since WWII. CNN reports the F-16s were on their way from Turkey to a location near an ISIS stronghold, but the mission had to be called off after the Russian plane forced them to divert. The US and Russia are still working on coming up with mutual rules for flight safety over Syria. According to USA Today, the Pentagon met with Russia about flight rules last Thursday but are still waiting on a second meeting. "We will keep the channel open because it's a matter of safety and security for our pilots," Pentagon spokesperson Jeff Davis says. CNN reports Russia has a history of intercepting US aircraft, and the Pentagon wants to be extra cautious until mutual rules are in place.