Turkey, Russia carry out first joint air operation in Syria

By Hakan Ceyhan Aydogan and Zehra Aydin

MOSCOW

Russian and Turkish air forces have conducted their first joint air operation against the Daesh terrorist group in Syria, a Russian military commander said Wednesday.

According to Lieutenant-General Sergey Rudskoy, a total of 36 Daesh targets were hit in Syria’s Al-Bab region within the context of joint air operations.

Rudskoy said Russian Su-24, Su-25 and Su-35 warplanes, in addition to Turkish F-16 and F-4 fighters, took part in the operation.

Over the past two days, he said, several reconnaissance flights were carried out over the targeted region using unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones.

Rudskoy described the joint operation as "highly effective".

Turkish Armed Forces said in a statement Russian warplanes hit Daesh targets in southern Al-Bab city under the agreement signed by Turkey and Russia on Jan. 12, allowing them to coordinate air operations in war-torn Syria.

The army said Daesh targets were hit Wednesday during air operations at 07.00 a.m. (0400GMT), 07.14 a.m. (0414GMT), 11.35 a.m. (0835GMT) and 16.20 p.m. (1320GMT).

It said reconnaissance flights were carried out with armed drones belonging to the coalition.

The army also said "after a long time" coalition forces carried out air operation in Syria's Bzagah region at around 15.30 p.m. (1230GMT).