The joint patrols were established as part of the Sochi agreement signed in October 2019 to end Turkey’s military incursion into Kurdish areas of northern Syria. Ankara’s Operation Peace Spring saw Turkish forces take control of Sari Kani (Ras al-Ain) and Gire Spi (Tal Abyad) from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The patrols were suspended on October 5, 2023. In a statement on Friday, the Turkish defense ministry announced their resumption.
“The Turkey-Russia Federation Joint Land Patrol activity was restarted on August 22, 2024 in the east of the Peace Spring Operation area with the participation of four vehicles… and 24 personnel,” the ministry stated, adding that the patrols will continue to ensure the SDF has left the area.
According to the ministry, Ankara and Moscow conducted 344 patrols in the offensive zone from November 1, 2019 until they were suspended “due to the security situation in the region.”
The joint patrols were opposed by Kurdish residents who protested against them. In November 2019, a Turkish military vehicle ran over a protester and killed him.
As per the Sochi agreement, Kurdish forces should withdraw 30 kilometres from the border with Turkey. Ankara claims that the SDF still has a presence in the buffer zone, including in Manbij and Tel Rifaat.
SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi told Rudaw in late 2019 that they do not have any presence in the defined zone and control was handed over to a newly-established force. “The forces present there coordinate with Russians and other present forces. They continue their work,” he said.
Turkey has carried out three major military campaigns against the SDF since 2016 and is threatening another offensive on the grounds that the multi-ethnic force is affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The SDF has denied any ties with the PKK.
Moscow, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has been pushing for a restoration of ties between Damascus and Ankara. The Turkish government, which has been a harsh critic of Assad, recently struck a more conciliatory tone towards its neighbour, though it remains adamantly opposed to the Kurdish administration in northeast Syria.
