Turkish forces heightened on Monday security measures in the Nabah al-Salam area northeast Syria where it continued to conduct joint patrols with Russia as part of the Sochi agreement signed between the two sides in Moscow last October.
A statement issued by governorship of the southeastern Sanliurfa said Turkish forces are making efforts to take measures from land and air, using police dogs and drones, to prevent Syrian-Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) from infiltrating into the area.
The YPG makes up most of the Syrian Democratic Forces components.
Sanliufa’s statement noted that Turkish forces have recently implemented strict security measures in the cities of Tal Abiyad and Ras al-Ain.
It said Turkey also conducted inspection operations and dismantling of explosives in cooperation with the Syrian National Army to guarantee the security and stability of the region.
“Cars entering or leaving the area are subject to delicate checking, with particulate attention to the identity card and personal documents,” the governorate said.
On Monday, Russian and Turkish forces ran a new joint patrol in the western countryside of Al-Darbasiya.
Six Russian vehicles and four other Turkish set off from Sherik crossing on Turkey’s border and toured the villages of Dalik, Malak, Abbas, Ta’alak, Tarbah, Korkond, Barakah and Bar Kafri in the western countryside of Al-Darbasiyah.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said two Russian vehicles have stopped in Al-Tawrat village, while a helicopter was flying over the area. Another helicopter escorted the patrol.
Also, the Observatory said unidentified warplanes struck a base in eastern Syria on Saturday night, killing seven Iran-backed militiamen.
The strikes targeted a base near the town of Al-Bukamal close to the border with Iraq and it came days after shipments arrived at the base from Iraq.