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Conflict in Syria

Kurds to provide security for Russian task force on eastern bank of Euphrates River

Russia’s Aerospace Force has carried out 672 combat flights, hitting over 1,450 targets in the eastern part of Syria

© Vadim Grishankin/Russian Defense Ministry's press service/TASS

DEIR EZ-ZOR (Syria), December 4. /TASS/. Kurdish formations are ready to provide security for Russia’s task force on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the Warring Sides in Syria told journalists on Monday.

Read also

Damascus offensive along Euphrates aimed at mopping up terrorists — Russian top brass

"Kurdish formations are ready to provide security for the Russian force grouping located on the eastern bank of the Euphrates," Co-Chairman of the Committee for Governance of the Eastern Euphrates Territories Mahmoud Nuri said.

According to Russia’s representative Major General Yevgeny Poplavsky, the officers from the Russian Center for Reconciliation together with representatives of the local authorities are working on ways to create conditions for the return of civilians and humanitarian aid deliveries to areas on eastern bank of the Euphrates River. The Russian general also said that Syria’s territory east of the Euphrates would be liberated from terrorists in the coming days.

Nuri, in turn, pointed out that the Kurdish militia had been effectively fighting against the Islamic State (outlawed in Russia) under the Russian command, and thanked Russia for helping bring peace back to Syria.

According to the Russian Center for Reconciliation, the first meeting of the Committee for Governance of the Eastern Euphrates Territories took place in the town of Al-Salhiyah (Deir ez-Zor province) on December 3. A total of 23 delegates, representing all the ethnic and religious groups residing east of the Euphrates River, took part in the meeting.

Russia's aircraft

Russia’s Aerospace Force has carried out 672 combat flights, hitting over 1,450 targets in the eastern part of Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province, to provide support to militia units formed by the eastern Euphrates tribes and the Kurds, a source in the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the opposing sides in Syria told reporters on Monday.

Read also

Russia’s operation in Syria two years on — victory over terrorism is near

"In order to support the offensive conducted by the people’s militia formed by the eastern Euphrates tribes and the Kurdish militias, the Russian Aerospace Force carried out 672 sorties, hitting more than 1,450 targets," Russian Major General Yevgeny Poplavsky said at the first meeting of the Committee for administration of the eastern Euphrates areas.

The general added that the militia units’ activities on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River were being coordinated by the command of the Russian troops deployed to Syria.

Poplavsky also said that "the eastern Euphrates tribes’ militia units are completing the operation against the ISIL [the former name of the Islamic State terror group outlawed in Russia - TASS] terrorists in the eastern part of the Deir ez-Zor province."

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