In a depth of 6km, the first on-ground US-Turkish patrol east of Tal Abyad is completed

In a depth of 6km, the first on-ground US-Turkish patrol east of Tal Abyad is completed

Tal Abyad – North-Press Agency

Muhammad Habash / Fayad Muhammad

The Turkish armored vehicles, which entered the Syrian territories this morning in coordination with the US military, have checked six military points with a depth of 6km, from which the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had earlier withdrawn during the past two months.

The US-Turkish troops conducted a joint on the ground patrol in coordination with Tal Abyad Military Council, which was handed the military points by SDF, that the latter had earlier withdrawn along with their heavy weapons.

As six Turkish armored vehicles entered after the US four armored vehicles and two minesweepers have headed to the Turkish territories to bring the machineries through the border wall, at the village of Hashisha, some 30km east of Tal Abyad, where SDF had already filled its last tunnels there, two days ago.

The patrol headed through the international and border road between Sere-Kaniye (Ras Al-Ain) and Gre Spi (Tal Abyad) towards the village of Guilan, 35km east of Tal Abyad, to check the trenches of which the SDF had all filled, amid intensive flights by the US and Turkish helicopters.

The Turkish convoy which participated in the patrol, visited 6 points, from which the SDF had already withdrawn to ensure the implementation of the security mechanism: Hashisha, Guilan, Mushrifah al-Abbad, al-Ruwaiya and Al-Mestriha.

The Turkish military convoy returned through the border wall into Turkish territories this afternoon, while no information was known about the date of the upcoming joint patrol.

The co-chair of Tal Abyad Military Council told North-Press that the joint patrols will be implemented in coordination with their forces on the ground which were deployed in the area in line with the agreement of the “security mechanism”, pointing out that their forces are currently occupying the positions of the SDF, who had earlier withdrawn from the area.

While the Turkish Defense Minister had earlier said that the Turkish forces will begin joint patrols with the U.S. military in the designated area for establishing a safe zone in the eighth of September.