Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and affiliated groups expressed their escalating anger at Turkey and Russia on Thursday, leading to protests that halted a joint Russian-Turkish patrol in the Al-Jawadiya area of northeastern Syria.
The protests, which took place in the village of Dirna Aghi, were reportedly organized by SDF leaders who directed local neighborhood committees to gather residents early in the morning to intercept the patrol. According to local sources, the SDF also mobilized members of the Revolutionary Youth Organization, a PKK-affiliated group, to participate in the protest.
As the joint patrol attempted to proceed, protesters threw stones at the military vehicles, forcing the convoy to continue without stopping to avoid further clashes. In response, Russian forces fired warning shots into the air, deployed tear gas, and had helicopters fly at low altitudes to disperse the crowd.
The protest turned violent when a woman named Avin Issa was reportedly run over by a Russian armored vehicle. Issa was immediately taken to Al-Malikiyah/Derik Hospital for treatment. Videos posted by the Revolutionary Youth Organization show members in military attire chanting slogans like “Haval and Harbaji”—terms often used by PKK and Democratic Union Party (PYD) members to express solidarity and strength—as they intercepted the patrol.
This incident comes amid ongoing grievances among Kurdish groups over continued Turkish military actions in the region, which have targeted PKK and SDF leaders. Sources indicated that PKK cadres played a significant role in organizing the interception as a response to these attacks.
The Russian-Turkish joint patrols in northeastern Syria recently resumed after a year-long hiatus, under the terms of a 2019 Russian-Turkish agreement. The latest patrol, conducted last week, was the first of its kind since September 2023, following a noticeable decline in joint operations since early 2022.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the patrol included eight military vehicles and 40 soldiers from both sides, accompanied by Russian MI-8 helicopters. The patrol route covered several villages in Hasakah Governorate before the Turkish convoy returned to Turkish territory, and the Russian convoy headed towards Qamishli Airport.
The joint patrols, a product of the 2019 agreement following Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring, are intended to “maintain stability along the Syrian-Turkish border.” However, the growing discontent among Kurdish groups, exacerbated by Turkey’s military actions and the perceived complicity of Russia, threatens to undermine these efforts. The situation remains tense as Kurdish forces continue to resist Turkish influence in the region, raising questions about the future of joint patrols and the broader stability of northeastern Syria.
 and affiliated groups expressed their escalating anger at Turkey and Russia on Thursday, leading to protests that halted a joint Russian-Turkish patrol in the Al-Jawadiya area of northeastern Syria){kind=link}