Russian and Turkish forces fail to run their first M4 joint patrol
Reliable SOHR sources have confirmed that the Russian and Turkish forces failed to run their first joint patrol on Aleppo-Latakia international highway (M4), according to the deal agreed upon by Putin and Erdogan. The patrol started from Saraqeb town, east of Idlib, and reached Al-Nayrab town, then, returned and aborted the mission. The patrol was planned to tour other areas on the M4. However, the civilian sit-in demonstrations and jihadi groups’ threats prevented the patrol from completing it planned mission.
Hours ago, Observatory activists reported seeing more civilians arriving at Aleppo-Latakia international highway (M4). They cut off the key highway using rubber tires, blocking the way of the Turkish-Russian joint patrol and preventing them from patrolling the route that was agreed upon by Putin and Erdogan.
Russian and Turkish vehicles arrived in the area but the patrol did not make a move. Meanwhile, many reconnaissance drones were flying over the area.
On the other hand, several fighters of a jihadi group appeared in a video threatening to attack the joint patrol, one of whom was captured saying “We are on the highway, if the joint patrol is conducted we will attack it.”
Separately, an explosion went off near the place where the civilians have been gathered. The explosion was caused by an old land-mine by engineering teams affiliated to opposition factions.
SOHR source reported earlier this morning that tense calm was prevailing in the area of “Putin–Erdogan” as the new ceasefire in the “de-escalation zone” enters its tenth consecutive day. Meanwhile, Turkish-Russian joint patrols are expected to start to be run on Aleppo-Latakia international highway (M4) today, Sunday the 15th of March 2020, according to the agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Receb Tayyip Erdogan.
On the other hand, SOHR activists have monitored escalating popular resentment among the people of Idlib towards the anticipated joint patrols. A large number of Idlib’s headed to the M4 to hold sit-in demonstrations, in rejection of the alleged Turkish-Russian agreement.
Yesterday, Syrian Observatory activists reported that the people of Idlib had been still holding a sit-in near Jisr Ariha overlooking Aleppo-Latakia international highway (M4), for the second consecutive day. Some protestors cut off the M4 highway from the side of Jisr Ariha by setting fire to tires.