US military forces in the Kurdish-controlled region of northeastern Syria have taken over the military base in Kobani after the Russians evacuated it.
The Russians took control of the military base of Kobani under a deal with the Kurds and the previous government of Bashar al-Assad over border-control with Turkey. Kobani was the city which took a successful last stand against ISIS before the Kurdish forces turned the tide and began capturing territory from ISIS.
Kurdish news media Channel 8 has also stated that US forces will be taking over the base in Qamishli which is currently being evacuated by the Russians. Yesterday, US forces arrived in the city of Qamishli and patrolled the city along with Kurdish forces.
Russia is evacuating its troops and military hardware out of Syria with initial withdrawals made to the city of Benghazi in Libya. Syrian military officers of the Republican Guard have also accompanied Russian troops to Libya. It is not clear whether Russian troops in Syria arriving in Libya will be deployed there or in other African countries, or sent elsewhere to Russia or Ukraine.
Russia still controls the Hmeimim Air Base in Latakia and the port of Tartus in the western coast of Syria, and their future is yet unclear.
Meanwhile, as US forces consolidate their presence in northern Syria, there is still no agreement between the Kurds and the Syrian rebel commander, Abu Mohammad Jolani, who is demanding for the Kurdish forces to lay down their weapons and join the upcoming, new and regular Syrian army. Turkey has also conducted airstrikes against military hardware left by Assad’s army that fell in the hands of Kurdish forces.
Newsroom
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