Turkish, US troops run first joint patrol in northern Syria

Published September 8, 2019, 3:54 PM

by Gabriela Baron & Minka Klaudia Tiangco

By the Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey— Turkey’s state-run news agency says Turkish and US troops are conducting the first joint ground patrol of a planned so-called “safe zone” in northern Syria.

U.S. armored vehicles travel in a joint patrol of the safe zone between Syria and the Turkish border with the Tal Abyad Military Council near Tal Abyad, Syria, Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo/MANILA BULLETIN)

Anadolu Agency said six Turkish armored vehicles crossed into Syria on Sunday from the border town of Akcakale and joined US vehicles for their first joint patrol of an area east of the Euphrates river.

The patrols are part of a deal reached between Turkey and the United States to ease tensions between the allies over the presence of US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters in the area — although its details are still being worked out.

Turkey had been pressing for safe zone to keep the Kurdish fighters, considered a threat by Turkey, away from the border.

Turkey and US have previously conducted joint helicopters patrols.

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