Russia continues military patrols without Turkey; U.S. observation planes fly over perimeter of Russian bases in Latakia, Syria

QAMISHLI, Syria / LATAKIA, Syria – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported yesterday that a Russian military convoy traveled from Ain Issa in the northern Raqqa countryside toward Qamishli in the northeast, passing through Tel Tamr and Abu Rasayn.

The convoy included about 15 armored and military vehicles. The convoy passed through Qamishli and headed to Darbasiyah before returning to Abu Rasayn. No information about their final destination, so far.

The Russian-Turkish joint patrols carried out over the past several months have recently stopped due to increased tensions between the countries over the situation in Idlib. Russia has continued to patrol on its own.

In the west of the country, sources reported that two planes belonging to the U.S. Navy were spotted flying near Russian military bases in Latakia.

The aircraft, a P8-A Poseidon and an EP-3A Aries II, having taken off from Italy and Greece, flew along the Syrian coast for two hours.

According to the same sources, the two mentioned planes flew over international waters at a distance of 35-45 km from Hmeimim Air Base in the countryside of Latakia, and from the Center of Logistical Support for the Russian fleet in the port of Tartus.