ANKARA, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Turkey handed over 18 Syrian soldiers captured in northern Syria after talks with Russia, Anadolu Agency reported on Friday.
"Eighteen regime elements seized during the search activities in the southeast of Ras al-Ayn on Oct. 29 were handed over as a result of the coordination with the authorities of the Russian Federation," said Turkish Defense Ministry on its Twitter account late on Thursday.
Earlier, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Turkey was in talks with Russia on handing over the Syrian army members who were captured during search activities in southeast of Ras al-Ayn in Syria, in the area of Turkey's Operation Peace Spring.
Two of the Syrian army members, who were injured, received medical treatment at the hospital, the minister added.
On Tuesday, Turkey's Defense Ministry said 18 people claimed to be members of the Syrian government forces were taken into custody during a reconnaissance in southeast of Ras al-Ayn.
Following the U.S. pullout of its troops from northern Syria, Turkish armed forces launched an incursion into Syria earlier in October in a bid to drive Kurdish fighters out of the area to establish a safe zone along the Turkey-Syria border.
Under the U.S.-Turkey deal reached on Oct. 17 on a five-day truce, Turkey agreed to halt its military operation to pave the way for the withdrawal of People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters from the safe zone.
Turkey and Russia later agreed to give the YPG fighters another 150 hours to withdraw 30 km away from the Turkish border area. The deadline ended on Oct. 29.
