UPDATE - Turkey, Russia complete 4th joint patrols in N. Syria

UPDATES WITH COMPLETION OF 4TH JOINT PATROLS

By Sibel Morrow

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish and Russian troops completed their fourth joint ground patrols in northern Syria as part of an agreed-upon deal, according to Turkey’s National Defense Ministry on Monday.

The patrols were carried out in Darbasiyah town, east of the Euphrates River.

"Turkish and Russian military units have completed their fourth joint land patrol as planned, accompanied with UAVs [Unmanned Aerial Vehicle] and four vehicles each, in the Darbasiyah region in the east of the Euphrates," the ministry said in a Twitter post.

The first joint ground patrols which lasted for four hours completed on Nov. 1. It took place 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Ras al-Ayn and 30 km (18.6 mi) west of Qamishli city.

On Nov. 5, the two countries conducted the second joint ground patrols which lasted two hours east of Ayn al-Arab and west of Tal Abyad districts.

The third patrols were carried out between the cities of Qamishli and Derik along an 88-kilometer (54.6-mile) route, some 10 km (6.2 mi) from the Turkish border, which marked a first for the Turkish army as it crossed into eastern Qamishli for the very first time, with many reporters watching the developments closely.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants YPG/PKK terrorists to withdraw from the region so that a safe zone can be created to pave the way for the safe return of some 2 million refugees.

On Oct. 22, Ankara and Moscow reached a deal under which YPG/PKK terrorists will pull back 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Turkey’s border with Syria, and security forces from Turkey and Russia will mount joint patrols there.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.