Russia, Turkey Carry out ‘Record’ Patrol in Northeastern Syria

Turkish and Russian forces carried out a joint patrol for a record distance in northern Syria as part of the understandings concluded between the two sides.

On Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that its forces and their Turkish counterparts carried out a joint patrol for over 100 km in northeastern Syria, into the al-Qamishli district of al-Hasakah.

Commander of the Russian forces convoy, Brigadier General Andrei Titov said the patrol started from the Sherik crossing.

“The uniqueness of this patrol is the long distance of the route, as it included a large number of towns,” Titov added.

He stressed that the patrol took place in an orderly manner, and the troops succeeded in performing their mission, which was welcomed by local residents.

According to RT, 60 soldiers and more than ten military vehicles participated in the patrol, accompanied by helicopters of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Meanwhile, Turkey revealed that border guards detected a tunnel between northern Syria and Turkish territory.

The Turkish Defense Ministry announced in a statement Saturday that border guards in Hatay discovered the tunnel, and seized a generator, two hammer drills, a wheelbarrow, 300-meter cable, digger, shovel and battery used in the excavations.

Turkey accuses the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the largest faction of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), of trying to destabilize it and threaten its security.