Russian Forces Reopen M4, Reinforce Presence in Raqqa

Russian forces reopened the Syrian international highway (M4) for civilian and commercial use after about a month of closure following Turkish military operations in Ain Issa, with the participation of loyal Syrian factions.

The highway is now open from Ain Issa district in Raqqa countryside towards Tal Tamr to the northwest of Hasakah governorate, and from regions in al-Jazira reaching al-Yaaroubia border crossing with Iraq.

Moscow opened the road after reaching an understanding with Ankara during the talks at the end of last year between Russian officials and Turkish border officers in Sharkarak village.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing dozens of vehicles carrying goods and civilians crossing the road accompanied by Russian patrols.

Russia reinforced its presence in the northern and western countryside of Raqqa, after their base in Tal al-Saman area was attacked on Friday.

The attack was claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked Hurras al-Deen extremist group.

Russian officials and Syrian regime officers met with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) officials, without reaching a final agreement on the fate of Ain Issa.

The Turkish army and Syrian armed opposition factions targeted the region, and a number of medical teams reported the attacks to have taken place in al-Mushrefa and al-Jhabal villages.

Russia and the Syrian regime demanded a complete SDF withdrawal from Ain Issa and its surroundings at a depth of five kilometers, indicating that it should be handed to regime forces.

Tal Abyad Military Council Commander Riyad al-Khalafawi, affiliated with SDF, confirmed that the council’s forces had responded to the attacks of the Turkish forces and their loyal factions.

Khalafawi denied the “baseless” reports about reaching a final agreement with the Russian forces on handing over the area to the regime.

He indicated that the deployment of regime forces is limited to a number of military points, noting that the Russian forces have established three military bases.

Russian forces continue to patrol the international highway M4, according to Khalafawi.

Ain Issa is strategically important given its location overlooking the highway M4, as it connects al-Hasakah, Raqqa, and Deir Ez-Zor, in the east, with Aleppo in the north.

The area also contains a major road network connecting east of the Euphrates to its west.

Several protests erupted in Ain Issa denouncing Russia’s silence about the military escalation in the region, as Turkey aims to control the town.

In turn, the head of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), Ilham Ahmed, indicated that Russia should support the Autonomous Administration, adding that Moscow is responsible for the mistakes of the Syrian regime.