The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday that it had withdrawn its troops from the northern Syrian city of Afrin, where Turkey is launching an attack on Kurdish troops.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that the executive group was transferred to the Russian Center for Reconciliation between the warring parties in Syria as well as the military police in Afrin to the non-escalation area called Tel Refaat, to avoid possible provocations and dangers.
In the same context, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Moscow is concerned about the military operation in Afrin and is closely monitoring the developments of the situation.
“We urge the warring parties to exercise mutual restraint,” the statement said.
The Turkish attack on Kurdish forces in Afrin is likely to overshadow the Syrian-Syrian national dialogue conference, held by Russia, Turkey and Iran, to reach a political settlement to the Syrian conflict.