Turkey and
Russia launched joint patrols Friday in northeastern
Syria, under a deal that halted a
Turkish offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters who were forced to withdraw from the border area following Ankara's incursion.
The Turkish Defense Ministry said an initial patrol covered an area 87 kilometers (54 miles) long and 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep in the al-Darbasiyah region, assisted by drones.
The
Russian Defense Ministry said the joint patrol included nine military vehicles, including a Russian armored personnel carrier.