Russia briefly withdraws from bases in north Aleppo, leaving SDF to face Turkey by itself

Russia briefly withdrew its forces and its military equipment from two bases in Tal Rifaat, only to return to them in the wake of understandings with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces that control the area and fear the advances of the Turkish-backed opposition.
Russian armored vehicles drive as part of a joint Turkish-Russian military patrol along the M4 highway, which links the northern provinces of Aleppo and Latakia, near Ariha in the rebel-held northwestern Idlib province, Syria, June 10, 2020.
Russian armored vehicles drive as part of a joint Turkish-Russian military patrol along the M4 highway, which links the northern provinces of Aleppo and Latakia, near Ariha in the rebel-held northwestern Idlib province, Syria, June 10, 2020. - Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images
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Mohammed Hardan
@_MohammedHardan

Russian forces withdrew April 13 from two military bases in the town of Tal Rifaat in the northern countryside of Aleppo, namely the main base of Tal Rifaat on the Gaziantep international road and the Kashtar base near the town of Deir Jamal in northern Aleppo.

The Kashtar base is important for the Russians and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as it is adjacent to the frontlines with the Turkish army and its allied Syrian National Army (SNA) affiliated with the Free Syrian Army.

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