Residents of Syria’s northeast Tel Tamr protest against Russian patrol
HASAKAH COUNTRYSIDE, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, dozens of residents of the town of Zargan (Abu Rasin), north of Hasakah, northeastern Syria, intercepted Russian soldiers who headed to the town after a bloody Turkish bombardment yesterday.
This morning, Russian officers and soldiers visited the town, who came from their base in the al-Mabaqer station, north of the nearby town of Tel Tamr.
Angry residents of the town intercepted the Russian vehicles on the town’s main street, accusing Russia of colluding with the Turkish army and its silence over the violations of the Turkish army and the affiliated opposition factions.
One of the protesters said that the Russian forces, which announce that they came with the mission of maintaining security and a ceasefire, are silent about the Turkish bombing, “which is done after each Russian patrol to the place.”
“My three young children were injured by the bombing. My house has been destroyed and no one hears us,” said another protestor.
“Is my one-and-a-half-month-old child a fighter so that we are bombed like this? The Russians bear these crimes against us,” he asked.
After a protest that lasted for about an hour on the main street within the town’s market, the Russian officer, who identified himself as “Sergey” to the residents, went on a tour of the houses and shops that had been hit by the bombing and listened to some residents.
The Russian officer said, in response to a protester’s talk about the Turkish bombing and the feasibility of their presence in the region, that they “came to ensure security and stability.”
“We will raise all your demands to our leadership in Qamishli, which in turn will talk to the Turkish side to stop the bombing,” he added.
Yesterday evening, more than 50 shells fell on the center of the Tel Tamr town, causing extensive damage to residents’ homes and properties, in addition to schools and power lines.