Russian – Turkish joint patrol fires tear gas on civilians protesting the Turkish presence in rural Kobani

Syrian Observatory activists have reported that the Russian forces and their Turkish counterpart ran a fourth patrol within the western countryside of Ain Al-Arab city (Kobani). The patrol was launched from Ashmah village, west of Ain Al-Arab.

Reliable sources informed SOHR that the patrol fired tear gas on civilians gathered to show their rejection of the Turkish presence, near Kharkhury village.

This is the 22nd patrol of its kind to be run since joint patrols between the Turks and the Russians started in early November.

On January 13, SOHR activists reported that the Russian forces and their Turkish counterpart launched a new joint-patrol in villages, west of Ain Al-Arab (Kobani). The patrol was escorted by two Russian helicopters and planned to tour the villages of Shammah, Jarqili, Qarran, Dakemdash, Kharkhuri, Buyan, Saftik and Tal Sha’ir.

Reliable sources also told the Syrian Observatory that residents of Jarqili village waited on the road, where the patrol was expected to pass, in order to pelt it with stones and rotten vegetables and express their resentment towards the Turkish presence in their areas.