KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – 90 joint Russian-Turkish patrols have conducted in the countryside of Kobani, northern Syria, yet violations still go on in the areas. The patrols did not contribute to maintain security and stability.
Last week, the Russian Military Police and the Turkish forces conducted the patrol number 90 in the eastern countryside of Kobani.
In October 2019, Russia and Turkey declared a ceasefire agreement but in return the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) would move 30 km away from the Syrian-Turkish border.
Since November, Turkey and Russia have started to patrol the countryside of Kobani jointly on the basis of one patrol per week.
Ahmad Haj Ali, a 62-year-old man from the eastern countryside of Kobani, said the goal of the joint patrols was to maintain stability which has not been achieved so far. Turkey bombards Kobani constantly.
The Turkish shelling has wounded some civilians, including people from his own village. Also a 4-year-old boy identified as Abdo Hanifah lost his leg.
On January 8, the village of Qaramogh, 20 km east of Kobani, was shelled by Turkey. Six individuals from one family were wounded, including the child Hanifah.
The Russian role is useless
“The patrols conducted in our villages are useless,” Haj Ali said, adding, “The Russian role is useless. Turkey targets the civilians and the children everywhere.”
90 patrols have been conducted in Kobani countryside so far, he said. “One joint patrol passes their village every 15 days.”
Ismael Sabri, 60, is another resident of the eastern countryside of Kobani. He said the joint patrols aimed to preserve security and stability following the military action Turkey launched against Tel Abyad area nearly two years ago. But, “the Turkish aggression increases as numbers of patrols increase,” he said.
Targeting civilians
Turkey targeted the civilians in the village of Halenj in the southeastern countryside of Kobani and also Kobani city several times. The Turkish drones fly in the skies and targets the area at its will.
In June, 2020, a Turkish drone shelled a house in Halenj killing four women, including a female activist.
In January 2021, one civilian was injured as a Turkish drone shelled the village of Mamit, 4 km south of Kobani.
Causing fear and panic
Othman Ali Na’san, a 45-year-old resident of eastern countryside of Kobani, said the violations committed by Turkey have escalated. The Turkish drones and military vehicles spread dismay amongst the children despite the Russian and the Syrian government forces are present in the area.
The Russian and the government forces came to the area following military and political deals to make changes to achieve stability in the region. The Turkish drones hover in the sky of the region on a daily basis and Turkey does not stop its aggression and repeatedly threatens the area.
Na’san feel they are not safe. Turkey creates disorder so that stability is not achieved. The Russian and the government forces that came after the withdrawal of the SDF were tasked to achieve stability but Russia keeps silent towards the Turkish aggression.
Russian green light
“Without obtaining the green light from Russia and the USA, Turkey would not move one step forward into the region,” Na’san added.
He called to block the Syrian air space to the Turkish military drones, which hover every day in the skies and targets Kobani and its villages adjacent to the Turkish border like Halenj, Goran, Goltapa, and Qaramogh.
The government forces are supposed to guarantee protection for the area but they do not respond to the Turkish aggression and they have fired no single shot against the Turkish forces, Na’san noted.