FILE IMAGE: Russian Military Police service members are in Syria
On June 13, a unit of the Russian Military Police scouted the frontline separating Kurdish forces from the Turkish-occupied town of Ras al-Ayn, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
The UK-based monitoring group added that the unit inspected an area west of Asadiyah, where a new Russian position will be established soon.
“The Russian patrol aims to explore the region and clear mines, in preparation for the establishment of an advanced military position near the frontline between the influence areas of Turkish forces and the factions loyal to them on the one hand, and the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] on the other,” the SOHR’s report reads.
This was reportedly the first time ever Russian forces reach this highly-sensitive area around Ras al-Ayn on the Turkish border.
The Russian Military Police established a number of new positions in northern al-Hasakah Syria in the last few months. A position was established near the village of Qasr Deep, which’s located in the countryside of the town of al-Malikiyah, ten days ago.
These new positons are likely meant to implement the Russian-Turkish agreement on northeast Syria that was reached last year. Under the agreement, SDF units should be pushed around 30 km away from Turkey’s border.
