13 Nov 2019 11:51

Russian helicopters carrying unguided rockets, armed troops patrolling northeastern Syria - television

MOSCOW. Nov 13 (Interfax) - Russia's Mil Mi-35 and Mi-8 military transport helicopters armed with unguided rockets are patrolling the Syrian-Turkish border, according to a report aired on the Defense Ministry's television channel Zvezda on Wednesday.

The video depicts helicopters carrying Russian troops, who are monitoring the situation and are ready to use their weapons, machineguns and rifles, if necessary.

The helicopters are flying over populated localities, roads, and the desert at a low altitude.

According to Zvezda, Mi-35 and Mi-8 helicopters of the Russian Army Aviation protected the fifth joint Russian-Turkish patrol in northeastern Syria on Tuesday.

"Helicopters of the Russian Aerospace Forces are performing their combat duty throughout the 30-kilometer zone set up by Russia and Turkey and agreed upon with the Kurdish forces," Zvezda said.

It was reported earlier on Wednesday that Russian helicopters had broadened the patrolling area in northeastern Syria.

"We are performing aerial patrol missions in northern parts of Syria and are accompanying humanitarian truck convoys and military police convoys," Mi-8 navigator Ivan Petrov told the press.

A spokesman for the Russian Aerospace Forces said last week that the Russian military had decided to involve Army Aviation helicopters in patrolling missions in northern Syria on a daily basis.

Patrolling missions in northern Syria are authorized by the memorandum signed by the Russian and Turkish presidents in Sochi in October.

As reported earlier, the Russian contingent in Syria operates Kamov Ka-52 Alligator and Mil Mi-28N Night Hunter attack helicopters and Mil Mi-8 and Mi-35 military transport helicopters.