Russian, Turkish forces conduct first patrol since November 20 in Kobani
KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, Russian Military Police (MP) and Turkish forces conducted a joint military patrol in the western countryside of Kobani, northern Syria, marking 120 since the Russian-Turkish ceasefire agreement in October 2019.
The joint patrols have started since 2019 following a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Turkey after the latter launched the so-called “Peace Spring” operation against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and occupied the two cities of Tel Abyad and Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) in northern Syria.
Conducting today’s patrol follows the cancellation of three previous ones, and Russia’s conduct of a one-sided patrol last week.
The cancellation came following the Turkish military escalation against the areas of north and northeast Syria in November 20.
As a result of the Turkish escalation, civilians, fighters of the SDF and the Syrian government forces were targeted and infrastructure sites were devastated, including gas and oil facilities.
The Russian commander who ran the patrols did not reveal the reasons behind the cancellation of three ones, however, an exclusive source attributed the act to recent Turkish escalation against the region.
The patrol that was made up of 8 patrols (4 for each side) and two Russian helicopters set off from the village of Ashma, 20 km from the west of Kobani.
The vehicles passed through the villages of Chareqli Fouqani, Qeran, Dikmadash, Khorkhori, Boban, Chol Bek and Tel Shair, 4 km to the city of Kobani.
After that, the patrol passed the villages of Sosan, Qola, Qara Qoy Tahtani, Pinder, Meshko, Jibna and Chareqli Fouqani returning against to Ashma where the Turkish armored vehicles crossed to Turkey while the Russian ones returned to the Russian base close to the village of Sirrin in the south of Kobani.
On December 12, the Russian MP conducted a one-sided patrol in the east of Kobani.