8 Nov 2019 09:11

Russian military helicopters to daily patrol border in northern Syria - Aerospace Forces rep

TABQA (Syria). Nov 8 (Interfax) - The Russian military has decided to daily use army air force helicopters to patrol the border in the north of Syria, Russian Aerospace Forces pilot Dmitry Ivanov told reporters.

"Such missions will be carried out every day along all patrol routes," he said.

In addition, helicopters will accompany Russian military police convoys and ensure security in patrol areas, he said.

"We have embarked on a special air patrol mission in the northern provinces of the Syrian Arab Republic. Air patrols will follow several routes. Groups of helicopters will be flying in pairs at an altitude of 50-60 meters," Ivanov said.

Patrols in northern Syria have been conducted under a memorandum signed by the Russian and Turkish leaders in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi in October.

Head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria Maj. Gen. Yury Borenkov said on Thursday that Russia's army aviation conducted its first patrol in northeast Syria on November 7.

The Russian military police and Turkey's border service carried out their joint patrols in northern Syria on November 1 and November 5.