Russia, Turkey Begin Joint Patrols in Northern Syria

Photo: AA

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Troops of Turkey and Russia began joint patrols in northern Syria, near the border with Turkey.

Ankara and Moscow reached an agreement in Sochi, Russia on October 22 for the withdrawal of the Kurdish People's Defense Units (YPG) from border areas.

The patrols began in the area between Ras al-Ayn city and Darbasia town in Syria, 500-meter near Sevimli village in Turkey's Mardin city.

The agreement in Sochi said the following on the joint patrols:

"Starting 12.00 noon of October 23, 2019, Russian military police and Syrian border guards will enter the Syrian side of the Turkish-Syrian border, outside the area of Operation Peace Spring, to facilitate the removal of YPG elements and their weapons to the depth of 30 km from the Turkish-Syrian border, which should be finalized in 150 hours. At that moment, joint Russian-Turkish patrols will start in the west and the east of the area of Operation Peace Spring with a depth of 10 km, except Qamishli city." (PT/VK)