Ankara, Moscow Discuss Issue Of Joint Patrols Syria's Tell Rifaat - Turkish Military

Ankara continues to discuss with Russia the issue of a joint patrol in the northern Syrian city of Tell Rifaat, the Turkish Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday

ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th March, 2019) Ankara continues to discuss with Russia the issue of a joint patrol in the northern Syrian city of Tell Rifaat, the Turkish Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"In order to prevent attacks on our military in Tell Rifaat, we are coordinating with Russia on the issue of joint patrols in the area. Despite provocations against our work in the framework of the Sochi agreements, it [coordination] successfully continues. High-level bilateral talks with the United States and Russia are also continuing in preparation for the operation to the east of the Euphrates," the statement said.

Ankara claims that Kurdish militias operating in the north of Syria pose a threat to Turkey's security. In January 2018, Turkey launched a military operation in the northwestern Syrian city of Afrin against the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which is regarded by Turkey as an affiliate of the PKK.

Last December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Ankara was ready to launch another offensive against the Kurdish militia, in then Kurdish-controlled Manbij, however, the Turkish leader later said that the operation had been postponed following his phone conversation with US President Donald Trump, who announced the withdrawal of US troops from Syria after the call.

Damascus, in turn, categorically opposes the presence of either the Turkish or US military on Syrian territories to the east of the Euphrates River.

In February, during the fourth summit of the guarantors of the Astana process that was held in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts joint steps required for the long-term normalization of the situation in Syria.