121st Russian-Turkish joint patrol launched in Syria’s Kobani
KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – Russian Military Police (MP) conducted on Monday a joint patrol with Turkish forces in the western countryside of Kobani.
This is the 121st patrol between the two forces in the region since the signing of the Russian-Turkish ceasefire agreement in northeast Syria.
In October 2019, following 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 Ashma, 20 km west of Kobani.
The patrol passed the villages of Charqli Fouqani, Jebnah, Bayadah, and Zor Maghar in west of Kobani.
The patrol returned to the starting point in Ashma, passing by the villages of Seftek, Boban, Khorkhoy, Dikmadash, Qeran, and Charqli Fouqani.
The Turkish military vehicles returned to Turkey through the gate near Ashma, while Russian military vehicles returned to their position near the town of Sirrin in west of Kobani.
On Dec. 26, 2022, the Russian military police launched a one-sided patrol in the eastern countryside of Kobani while the Turkish forces did not participate in the patrol.
A military source told North Press, quoting the Russian patrol commander as saying that Turkey refrained from participating due to bad weather, which made it difficult for Russian helicopters accompanying the patrol to fly.
On December 19, 2022, the Russian and Turkish forces conducted 120th joint patrol in the western countryside of Kobani, it was the first of its kind following Turkish military escalation on November 20 of the same year.
As a result of the Turkish escalation, civilians, fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government forces were targeted and infrastructure sites were devastated, including gas and oil facilities.