US, Turkey start joint patrol in Syrian 'security zone'

Turkish and American sides came together in a joint patrol with American vehicles leading the convoy. Helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles were also being used during the patrol.

Tel Abyad: Turkish and US troops conducted their first joint ground patrol in northeastern Syria on Sunday as part of a planned so-called 'safe zone' that Ankara has been pressing for in the volatile region.

Turkey hopes the buffer zone, which it says should be at least 30 kilometres (19 miles) deep, will keep Syrian Kurdish fighters, considered a threat by Turkey but allies by the US in the fight against the Islamic State group, away from its border.

Associated Press journalists in the town of Tal Abyad saw about a dozen Turkish armoured vehicles with the country's red flag standing along the border after crossing into Syria, and American vehicles about a mile away waiting.

The two sides then came together in a joint patrol with American vehicles leading the convoy.

At least two helicopters hovered overhead.

The Turkish defence ministry confirmed the start of the joint patrols and said unmanned aerial vehicles were also being used.