Turkey, Russia carry out first joint air op in Syria

By Hakan Ceyhan Aydogan

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian and Turkish air forces have conducted their first joint air operation against the Daesh terrorist group in Syria, a Russian military commander said Wednesday.

According to Lieutenant-General Sergey Rudskoy, a total of 36 Daesh targets were hit in Syria’s Al-Bab region within the context of joint air operations.

Rudskoy said Russian Su-24, Su-25 and Su-35 warplanes, in addition to Turkish F-16 and F-4 fighters, took part in the operation.

Over the past two days, he said, several reconnaissance flights were carried out over the targeted region using unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones.

Rudskoy described the joint operation as "highly effective".

On Jan. 12, the Turkish military announced that Turkey and Russia had signed an agreement allowing them to coordinate air operations in war-torn Syria.

"The deal lays down mechanisms for coordinating between Russia’s Aerospace Forces and the Turkish Air Force within the context of our [joint] offensive against terrorist targets," read a statement issued by the Turkish General Staff.