First Russian-Turkish patrol on Syrian highway cut short by protests

Record ID: 1464663

  • Title: First Russian-Turkish patrol on Syrian highway cut short by protests
  • Date: 15th March 2020
  • Summary: NAYRAB M4 HIGHWAY, SYRIA (MARCH 15, 2020) (REUTERS) TANK COVERED BY SYRIAN PROTESTERS / SYRIANS WALKING AND WAVING SYRIAN OPPOSITION FLAGS SYRIANS GATHERING NEXT TO TANKS TURKISH TANK DRIVING PAST/ PROTESTERS GATHERED ON ROAD SMOKE BILLOWING ON ROAD / PROTESTERS GATHERED PROTESTERS SITTING ON TANK SOLDIER GOING INSIDE TANK TANKS BEING DRIVEN, TURNING BACK / SOLDIERS ON TANK AND PROTESTERS WAVING PROTESTERS STANDING ON TANK AS IT DRIVES, PROTESTER WITH BRANCH HITTING TANK PROTESTERS STANDING ON TANK / PROTESTER ATTEMPTING TO GET ON TANK PROTESTERS STANDING AS PLUME OF SMOKE RISES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MILITARY COMMANDER WITH THE SYRIAN NATIONAL ARMY, OSSAMAH RAHHAL, SAYING: "As you can see behind me it is a civilian protest with revolution flags. People came to reflect on its stance towards the Turkish-Russian patrols. As you can see they are blocking the roads they are allowing any Turkish patrol to go in but they are opposing the Russian one." PROTESTERS GATHERED AS FIRE BURNS ON ROAD, DARK SMOKE RISING WIRING ON ROAD PLUMES OF SMOKE RISING PROTESTERS STANDING, SHOUTING (Arabic) : "THESE PATROLS WILL NOT PASS" PROTESTER HELPING ANOTHER PROTESTER WITH FLAG TIED AROUND HIS FACE VARIOUS OF EMPTY ROADS ONE MOTORIST DRIVING IN AN EMPTY STREET
  • Embargoed: 29th March 2020 17:04
  • Keywords: Idlib M4 highway Moscow and Ankara Russia and Turkey ceasefire accord joint patrol
  • Location: NAYRAB M4 HIGHWAY, SYRIA
  • City: NAYRAB M4 HIGHWAY, SYRIA
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA001C55XAH3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Russia and Turkey cut short their first joint patrol in Syria's Idlib on Sunday (March 15) after rebels and civilians opposed to a ceasefire agreement cut off a main roadway to block its path, according to witnesses and Russian news agencies.
    The patrol on the M4 highway in Idlib province was the result of a March 5 ceasefire accord between Moscow and Ankara, which back opposing sides in Syria's nine-year war. The ceasefire has largely held since then.
    Under the deal, which halted hostilities after an escalation of violence that displaced nearly a million people, Turkish and Russian forces are to establish a security corridor on either side of the M4, as well as carry out joint patrols along it.
    But on Sunday hundreds of civilians and rebels cut off the roadway, rejecting the presence of Russian forces and what they said was an agreement that did not guarantee their re-settlement after being pushed out by violence.
    Protesters, some waving Syrian National Army flags, climbed atop Turkish tanks or stood in their path, according to witnesses. Photos posted by the Syrian Observatory, a Britain-based war monitor, showed people lighting fires in the street and forming human chains.
    (Production: Mahmoud Hassano, Hamuda Hassan, Muath Freij)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register