Russian forces stationed in Derik, northern Syria amid residents’ protests

Russian helicopter lands near the village of Qasr al-Deeb in Derik countryside – North Press

North-Press Agency     

DERIK – Syria (North Press) – Russian forces stationed in the vicinity of Qasr al-Deeb village in the city of Derik, northeastern Syria late Tuesday-Wednesday night, amid fear of the region's residents and their continuous protests against their presence.

A number of members of the Russian military police equipped with their individual weapons and accompanied by 18 armored vehicles returned late at night to Qasr Al-Deeb village, where they stationed next to the school in the vicinity of the village, a North Press correspondent said.  

She pointed out that Russian forces in the village conducted two patrols, one of which went to the Derik area and was intercepted by a US patrol at the northern entrance to the city of Derik, while the second was intercepted by US forces at the southern entrance to the same city. 

Derik is one of the places where the US forces that lead the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS maintain a military presence after their withdrawal from most of northern Syria according to the decision issued by the US President Donald Trump late last year.  

This comes in light of the fear of the region’s residents of the deployment and stationing of the Russian forces there. Mahmoud Iskandar, a resident of Qasr al-Deeb village, said that they do not want the military police to station in the village, especially since they do not know the cause or the goal for their presence. 

He pointed out that residents are unable to do anything about the deployment of the Russian soldiers, otherwise they would “drive them out." 

“We do not want them to create any points in the village … for example, if they open the borders and bring the Turkish army, what will we do?,” he said.  

In turn, one of the villagers, identified as Abu Tamr, expressed his rejection of the deployment of the Russian military police or any other foreign force, especially the Turkish army. “Russians came and brought their planes. We do not know what they are doing … we do not recognize anthing  … we do not want anyone to remain here. We are safe, and we do not want any foreign force here, especially the Turks,” he said. 

Residents of villages in the countryside of Derik already protested against the conduct of a patrol by the Russian military police on the border strip on Tuesday, that started from Qamishli to North Derik.