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Conflict in Syria

No shelling attacks by Turkey-controlled groups reported from Syria’s Idlib

A regular Russian-Turkish joint patrol mission was conducted in the al-Hasakah governorate

MOSCOW, March 16. /TASS/. No shelling attacks by Turkey-controlled armed groups were reported in Syria’s Idlib de-escalation zone during the past day whereas militants staged seven shelling attacks, Oleg Zhuravlev, chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, told reporters on Monday.

"No shelling attacks by Turkey-controlled illegal armed groups were reported throughout the day," he said, adding that six shelling attacks by Jabhat al-Nusra (a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia) militants were reported from the Idlib, Aleppo and Latakia governorates.

He also said that a regular Russian-Turkish joint patrol mission was conducted in the al-Hasakah governorate on Monday.

Russian and Turkish Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, held talks in Moscow on March 5 to agree a ceasefire and a number of other measures to settle the situation in Syria’s Idlib governorate. Under the agreements, hostilities are to be stopped along the entire contact line along with the enforcement of a ceasefire on March 6. Russia and Turkey will begin joint patrolling along the M4 highway from March 15 to ensure a security corridor. Moscow and Ankara reiterated commitment to Syria’s sovereignty and agreed to continue fight against terrorism.

The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria. The center’s officers regularly travel around the country's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation. The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on assistance to the refugees returning to their homes and evacuation of civilians from de-escalation zones.

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