Turkey and Russia Resume Joint Patrols in Northern Syria

The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced today, Friday, that Turkish and Russian forces have resumed joint ground patrols in northeastern Syria, after they were halted last year due to security concerns.

The ministry’s statement said that the joint ground patrols resumed yesterday, Thursday, with armored vehicles in northeastern Syria, involving four vehicles and 24 personnel.

The statement noted that the joint ground patrols in the west and east of the “Peace Spring” area are conducted in accordance with the “Sochi Agreement” between the two countries on October 22, 2019.

The ministry did not comment on the security reasons that caused the suspension of these patrols last October, but it mentioned that the number of patrols since 2019 has reached 344.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense said that joint ground patrols will continue in the near future to consolidate stability in northeastern Syria, ensure the security of Turkey’s borders, and demonstrate Turkish-Russian cooperation in combating terrorism.