Russian military police enter Saraqib, Syrian city actively contested by Assad and Turkish proxy troops

A Russian military police unit has entered the Syrian city of Saraqib, Idlib Province, Interfax reported.

For several days, the city has been the site of active battles between the Syrian army serving Bashar al-Assad and groups of fighters supported by the Turkish government. The city has been transferred from one side to the other multiple times.

Russian officials charged with regulating the Syrian conflict told reporters that military police were deployed to Saraqib to provide “uninhibited transport routes for automobiles and for the civilian population” along the major highways that run through the city.

On the morning of March 2, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara “has no problems” with Russia in Syria and that his army is not targeting Russian troops in its attacks.