Russian forces crossed the Euphrates in Syria on Wednesday (October 23rd), heading for the border with Turkey, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
"Today (Wednesday) at 12 noon (9 am GMT), a column of the Russian military police crossed the Euphrates towards the Syrian-Turkish border," the ministry said. Russia is acting in the framework of a Russian-Turkish agreement on the withdrawal of Kurdish forces.
The Russian military police "will help the withdrawal of the People's Protection Units (YPGs, Kurdish fighters) and their disarmament 30 kilometers deep" over much of northeastern Syria bordering Turkey, he continued.
Under the agreement between Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it will be the Russians and Turks who will patrol the area.
In accordance with this memorandum, however, Turkey is still in control of another region in the north-east where its army is already present, and which it took control of during its offensive launched on 9 October against the YPG.
With AFP