ANKARA

Turkish and Russian military elements performed the 12th joint patrol along a key highway in Idlib, northwestern Syria, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

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Turkey, Russia hold 12th joint patrol in Idlib, Syria

IDLIB, SYRIA - MAY 20: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY – MANDATORY CREDIT - " TURKISH NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTRY / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Turkish and Russian troops carry out the 12th joint patrol along key M4 highway in Idlib, northwestern Syria on May 20, 2020. ( Turkish Defense Ministry/Handout - Anadolu Agency )

“Within the framework of TUR-RF Agreement/Protocol, the 12th TUR-RF Combined Land Patrol on M-4 Highway in Idlib was conducted with the participation of land and air elements,” the ministry said in an official statement.

The M4 highway, also known as the Aleppo-Al Hasakah road, is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Turkey's southern border.

The eleventh joint patrol was carried out on Thursday.

This March, Ankara and Moscow agreed on a protocol urging parties to “cease all military actions along the line of contact in the Idlib de-escalation area.”

The protocol said joint Turkish-Russian patrols would begin on March 15 along the M4 highway from the settlement of Trumba -- 2 km (1.2 miles) to the west of Saraqib -- to the settlement of Ain al-Havr.

Idlib has long been under siege by Assad regime forces and its allies, and previous cease-fires for the region were plagued by violations.

Turkey has worked to protect the local civilian population as well as rid the wider region of terrorist elements.