{"id":57380,"date":"2019-10-29T18:58:47","date_gmt":"2019-10-29T18:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/10\/29\/russia-says-syrian-kurds-complete-withdrawal-from-turkish-border\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:17:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:17:48","slug":"russia-says-syrian-kurds-complete-withdrawal-from-turkish-border","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/29\/russia-says-syrian-kurds-complete-withdrawal-from-turkish-border\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia says Syrian Kurds complete withdrawal from Turkish border"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MOSCOW \u2014 Russia\u2019s defense minister said Tuesday that Syrian Kurdish fighters have completed their withdrawal from areas along the Syrian border, in line with a recent Russia-Turkey deal<\/a>. Sergei Shoigu said Russian and Syrian troops have moved into the border zone following the Kurdish withdrawal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Separately, a Russian military statement said an explosive device went off near Russian armored vehicles near the Darbasiyah border checkpoint, but there were no injuries or damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week\u2019s Russia-Turkey deal to divide control of northeast Syria has halted the Turkish invasion of the area. Ankara aimed to drive out Syrian Kurdish forces<\/a> there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kurdish-led forces had been U.S. allies during a five-year campaign against the Islamic State group in Syria. But U.S. forces withdrew from the area, allowing the Turkish offensive<\/a>. The Kurds have since turned to Russia and the Syrian government in Damascus for protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moscow and Ankara have agreed that Turkey gets to retain control over the areas it seized when it launched its offensive on Oct. 9. Russian and Syrian troops will control the rest of the frontier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia and Turkey are set to conduct joint patrols of areas east and west of the Turkish-held parts of the border area.<\/p>\n\n\n\t