American outcome: Russian helicopters land at former US airbase in Syria

Helicopters of the Russian Aerospace Forces landed at the Tabka military airfield in northern Syria. Previously, there was a US military base, but a few days ago this territory returned to the control of government forces.

According to representatives of the Syrian army, the runway of the airfield is damaged by terrorists. At the same time, the USA did not restore it after it took control.

“Now our military is dismantling the rubble of concrete formed after the blasting of the runway, and also removing the remnants of the broken equipment on the airfield - there are service vehicles, tankers, and fire engines. Now our airfield, and we won’t leave here again, ”TASS quoted the commander, whose unit is guarding the facility.

The airfield is located near the town of Et Tabka, Racca Province. The village, like the province as a whole, was captured by militants of the “Islamic State” * in 2014. At the same time, the provincial capital, the city of Raqqa, actually became the capital of the group.

In 2016-2017, the armed opposition units of the "Forces of Democratic Syria" (SDS), largely consisting of illegal Kurdish forces, were able to drive the Islamic State out of the province, taking control of the airfield with the city. Later, a US military base was established there.

October 9, Turkey began its military operation "Source of Peace" in northeast Syria. Ankara is fighting against the Kurds among the "Self-Defense Forces" (included in the SDS) and the "Kurdistan Workers Party" - in Turkey they are recognized as terrorist.

The United States, in turn, withdrew its forces from the region. Already during the fighting, Washington additionally sent to other regions 1 thousand American soldiers located in northeast Syria.

In connection with the ongoing offensive by the Turkish Armed Forces, the Kurds concluded an agreement with the Syrian government. Negotiations took place at the Russian air base in Hmeimim. According to media reports, according to the agreements concluded, the Kurds decided to transfer to Damascus control over the border with Turkey and border territories.

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• © Mikhail Alaeddin

After the conclusion of the agreement, the Syrian troops began to move to the north of the Arab Republic, occupying cities liberated by the Kurds along the way. The state news agency SANA reported that Et-Tabka and the airfield took troops on October 14.

On October 16, the US-led coalition left its position in the area of ​​the air base. This was announced by the official representative of the headquarters of the operation "Unbreakable Determination" Colonel Michaels Caggins.

“Coalition forces continue the carefully planned withdrawal of troops from northeastern Syria. On October 16, we left the Lafarge Cement Plant, Racca and Tabka, ”he wrote on Twitter.

It is noteworthy that the coalition did not begin to take out ammunition from its warehouse at the Lafarge plant - instead, it dealt an air strike on it.

Agreement between Damascus and the Kurds

In the north-east of Syria are the provinces of Al-Raqqah, Al-Hasaka and Deir ez-Zor. The first two provinces were almost completely controlled by the SDS. The northern regions of Aleppo province are also held by the armed opposition.

The situation began to change after the conclusion of an agreement between the SDS and Damascus. According to the president of the SAR, Bashar al-Assad, Damascus immediately after the start of the "Source of Peace" began to negotiate with the groups located in the north.

“The first thing we did with the outbreak of aggression (Turkey. - RT ) in northern Syria - contacted the various political and military forces there, and said: we are ready to support any group opposing (Turkey. - RT ). This is not a political decision, but a constitutional and patriotic duty. If we didn’t do this, we would not deserve this land, ”the press service quoted him as saying.

On May 13, Al Mayadeen reported that Syrian government forces entered Manbij, located in the north of Aleppo.

The next day, government forces occupied the village of Tell-Tamer in the north-west of Hasek province, SANA reported. It is 30 km from the border with Turkey.

On October 15, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that American troops left two of their bases in the area at once.

“US forces have left their bases in the areas of Dadat, located northwest of the city of Manbij, and Umm-Mial, descending towards the Syrian border with Iraq. Currently, Dadat and Umm-Mial are occupied by Syrian government forces, ”the defense ministry said in a statement.

At the same time, many Kurds reacted negatively to the withdrawal of American troops. So, the residents of El-Kamyshly stoned a column of the US armed forces leaving the city. They also shouted insults at Washington soldiers and politicians.

On October 16, the Syrian army already occupied the border town of Kobani with Turkey, Al Mayadeen said. On the same day, according to RIA Novosti, the Syrian troops for the first time in five years entered the city of Raqqa - the capital of the province of the same name.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called for the transfer to the control of the Syrian government of all the territory of the Arab Republic. This statement was made by the official representative of the Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.

“We are convinced that achieving sustainable, long-term stabilization and security in this region of Syria, in the country and in the region as a whole is possible only on the basis of restoration, first of all, of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. This means ultimately transferring to the control of the legitimate government of Syria all national territories, including the border with Turkey, ”she said during a briefing on October 17.

Russian participation

Russia carries out humanitarian operations in Syria, provides medical assistance. In total, according to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, more than 3.6 thousand tons of food, water and basic necessities were delivered. Russian doctors helped more than 106 thousand civilians

On October 16, Russian military police patrolled for the first time in Manbij. According to Safar Safarov, an officer of the Russian Armed Forces, in their presence, Turks and Kurds cease fighting.

• Armored car of the patrol service of the military police of the Russian Federation in the area of ​​Manbij in northeast Syria
• RIA News
• © Mikhail Alaeddin

“At the sight of the Russian flag, hostilities cease automatically: neither the Turks nor the Kurds want to harm us, so thanks to our work, the fighting stops,” he said.

Safarov emphasized that military police units would continue to patrol the neighborhood to prevent shelling.

“We will continue to control our area of ​​responsibility. Our main task is to ensure the safety of the population in case of shelling from any direction. This is not our first task in this zone: we have been working here for more than six months - and there were no problems with anyone, ”he added.

* “Islamic State” (IG) - the organization was recognized as terrorist by decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of December 29, 2014.