Russian forces deploy to military base in Syria’s Kobani

KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – Russian forces returned on Monday to a military base in the west of Kobani in northern Syria, which they had withdrawn from in late 2021.

North Press correspondent reported the Russian forces were stationed in the base, known as the Iza’a, alongside the Syrian government forces.

On Nov. 2, 2021, Russian troops withdrew from the Iza’a base and headed towards the town of Sirrin in the south of Kobani.

On Aug. 2, Oleg Ignasyuk, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, a division of the Russian defense ministry, said Russian and the Syrian government forces deployed a military base in Kobani.

Ignasyuk added that the center continues “monitoring the ceasefire between the warring parties.”

Before their withdrawal, Russian forces conducted joint patrols with the Turkish forces in the area to ensure the implementation of the ceasefire agreement that was signed in October 2019.

After the agreement, Russian and Turkish forces conducted 150 joint patrols up until August 2023.

By Fattah Issa