Russian, Turkish forces conduct 144th patrol in Syria’s Kobani
KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – Russian Military Police (MP) conducted on Monday a joint patrol with the Turkish forces in the eastern countryside of Kobani, northern Syria.
This is the 144th patrol between the two forces in the region since the signing of the Russian-Turkish ceasefire agreement in northeast Syria.
In October 2019, following the so-called Turkish military operation “Peace Spring” in areas of northeast Syria which resulted in the occupation of Tel Abyad, north of Raqqa, and Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) north of Hasakah, the Turkish president signed two ceasefire agreements, one with Russia and the other with the US.
The ceasefire agreements stipulating halt of all hostilities there and the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) 30 kilometers in depth away from the Turkish border in addition to conducting joint patrols with Russia in order to monitor the implementation of the agreements.
The patrol, which consisted of eight Russian and Turkish military vehicles accompanied by two Russian helicopters, set off from the village of Gharib, 15 km east of Kobani.
The patrol passed several villages in the eastern countryside of Kobani then returned to its starting point in Gharib.
The Turkish military vehicles returned to Turkey through the gate near Gharib, while the Russian military vehicles returned to their position near the town of Sirrin, south of Kobani.
On July 3, the Russian and Turkish forces conducted the 143rd joint patrol in the western countryside of Kobani.
Russian and Turkish forces conduct join patrols in the region in order to maintain the ceasefire and the region secure. However, Turkish drone and artillery attacks have not stopped against the city known for defeating the Islamic State (ISIS).
The people of Kobani have condemned several times the Turkish shelling despite conducting patrols and Russia’s inaction, being the guarantor in the region after reaching an understanding with the SDF.