Insight Media
Nov 2 · 3 min read

‘Peace Patrol' with the Butcher

For the first time in the Syrian Revolution, Russian and Turkish troops have undertaken a joint military patrol together in Northern Syria.

According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, armored vehicles and drones were used in the patrol. The campaign started 10am in al-Darbasiya, a small village in Northern Syria.

The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan entered agreements regarding Northern Syria with Vladimir Putin in Sochi on October 22nd. One of the points in the agreement was a cease-fire, so that the Kurdish YPG/PKK is given a time frame to retreat 30 kilometers from the Turkish border, leaving behind their heavy weapons and destroying their fortifications.

Russian sources state that the YPG/PKK have retreated and that the Russian troops are there to guarantee this in collaboration with the Turkish Army.

Syrian dictator, Bashar Assad is welcoming and praising this newfound co-operation between Russia and Turkey. He says; This contract should bring the Kurdish territory back under Syrian Regime authority. He also states that this agreement is a positive step and according to his own statements, Assad is not striving for enmity with Turkey.

However, Assad also points out that the Turkish president considers the government of Damascus to be an “enemy’’. In order to prevent enmity with Turkey, Assad’s allies, Russia and Iran are playing the mediatory role between the two countries.

Bashar Assad refused the proposal of German Federal Defense Minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to create an international safe zone in the north of the country. The recommendation proposed to re-establish safety under international patronage. In Assad’s opinion, that would mean he would not have authority over those areas.

Turkey started their operation in Syria on the 9th of October in order to suppress the Kurdish YPG/PKK militias. At the same time, Turkey wants to create a 120 kilometer long and 30 kilometer deep “safety zone“ and resettle millions of Syrians, with the approval of Russia. The American withdrawal from those territories enabled the Turkish operation which was sharply criticized by the International community, to take place.

Today, Turkey is the closest it has ever been to securing it’s border security issues hand in hand with Russia, and Bashar Assad has come ever closer to his dreams of recapturing every inch of Syria once more, along with gaining an unexpected friend along the way.

Abdullah Omarovic, Insight Media

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