Kurds pelt vehicles with stones as Russia, Turkey carry out third joint Syria patrol

Russia and Turkey began their third joint patrol on Friday amid sustained anger from local Kurdish residents in northern Syria.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

07 November, 2019

The patrols are part of a deal which forced Kurdish fighters to withdraw [Getty]

Turkish and Russian troops are conducting their third joint patrol in northeast Syria, under a deal between the two countries that forced Syrian Kurdish fighters to withdraw from areas bordering Turkey.

Turkey's Defence Ministry said the troops were patrolling on Friday in a region between Qamishli and Derik, east of the Euphrates. It said the patrols were being supported by drones, but provided no further details.

Turkey launched an offensive into northern Syria last month with the aim of creating a "safe zone" that would push the YPG away from the border and create space to repatriate Syrian refugees.

Ankara and its Syrian allies now control a 120-kilometre stretch of territory in northern Syria, including the towns of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain, as part of its "safe zone" plan.

American troops withdrew from the border, which gave Turkey a "green light" to move in, critics allege.

The deal with Russia - and a separate one with the US - halted the Turkish offensive. The patrols are aimed at allowing Turkey to ensure that Syrian Kurdish fighters have evacuated the border area.

Footage posted to social media on Friday purportedly showed Syrian Kurds throwing rocks at the Turkish military vehicles as they passed through the border region, in scenes which have reportedly become commonplace since the patrols began.

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