ISTANBUL: The first joint military patrol between Turkey and Russia against Syria’s northwestern region has been completed.
The news was confirmed by the Turkish defence ministry that in a statement said, “Within the framework of the Moscow agreement, the 1st joint Turkish-Russian land patrol on the M4 highway has been completed with the contribution of air and land assets.”
Through the ceasefire deal, Turkey and Russia are meant to also establish a security corridor either side of the key M4 highway, which links Syria’s east and west. The corridor stretches 6km (3.7 miles) to the north and 6km to the south of the M4 – effectively advancing Russia’s presence further north into Idlib.
Russia from Moscow had earlier sent military police to the patrol, which began from the settlement of Tronba in Idlib province. The patrols are part of a ceasefire deal reached earlier this month by Turkey, which backs certain opposition groups, and Syrian government ally Russia to halt an escalation of violence in Idlib that has displaced nearly a million people.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier this month said that his country would not shy away from even stronger military action in Idlib if the ceasefire was broke.
Read more: Turkey-Russia agree ceasefire in Idlib after Moscow meeting
