Russia and Turkey are carrying out joint operations in Syria in order to wipe out militant factions, the Sputnik Turkish service reported on Monday, citing the RIA news agency.
According to a statement by Sergei Rudskoy, a senior member of the Russian General Staff, Russia and Turkey are taking steps to identify and pinpoint terrorist groups’ weapons, equipment and ammunition depots.
While Turkey backs the armed rebels and Russia stands with the government in Damascus, the two sides brokered a deal in September to create a demilitarized zone in Idlib that would be free of all heavy weapons and jihadist fighters.
But the deal has faltered in recent months, forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee. Idlib in northwest Syria is the last remaining bastion of anti-government rebels after eight years of civil war.