Turkey, Russia carry out 1st patrol in Syria's Tal Rifaat

ANKARA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish and Russian forces on Tuesday carried out the first "independent but coordinated" patrol in northern Syria region of Tal Rifaat, Turkish Defense Ministry said.

The patrol was conducted in order to ensure the cease-fire and stability, and prevent attacks on Turkish forces in the region, the ministry said in a Twitter post.

Tal Rifaat is controlled mainly by Kurdish-led forces and located some 20 km east of Afrin, which has been under the control of Turkish force after the "Operation Olive Branch" against Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia in 2018.

Turkey considers YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which has been fighting for the establishment of an independent Kurdish state by armed rebellion since the 1970s.

Early this month, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar also announced that Turkey and Russia were set to begin joint patrols in Syria's northern province of Idlib, which was recognized as a de-escalation zone under the framework of Astana talks.