Russian, Turkish forces resume joint patrols in northern Syria
KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – Russian and Turkish forces resumed on Monday their joint military patrols in northern Syria after nearly a year of being suspended following Turkish escalation.
Russian Military Police (MP) conducted a joint patrol with Turkish forces east of the city of Kobani in northern Syria.
The patrol, consisting of eight Russian and Turkish military vehicles accompanied by two Russian helicopters, started from the village of Gharib and reached the village of Khaneh/Bandarkhan, east of Kobani.
The Turkish vehicles then returned to Turkish territory at the starting point in the village of Gharib, while the Russian military vehicles returned to their base in the town of Sirrin, south of Kobani.
On Oct. 2, 2023, both sides conducted a joint patrol, which was halted until this Monday. These patrols are in accordance with a ceasefire agreement reached by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Oct. 22, 2019.
The agreement came 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. At the time, the Turkish president signed two ceasefire agreements, one with Russia and the other with the US.
The ceasefire agreements mandate a complete halt to hostilities in the region and require the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to withdraw 30 kilometers from the Turkish border. The SDF withdrew from the border areas according to the agreement, but Turkey continues targeting the area.