AKIPRESS.COM - Turkish and U.S. soldiers have started independent patrols in northern Syria along the line separating Turkish-controlled areas from the town of Manbij where Ankara says Kurdish militia fighters are based, Turkey’s military said on Monday, Reuters reported.

Earlier this month Turkey and the United States endorsed a tentative deal to overcome months of dispute over the town, in which the Kurdish YPG militia would withdraw from Manbij and Turkish and U.S. forces would jointly maintain security and stability there. 

Ankara has been infuriated by U.S. support for the YPG - which it views as a terrorist organisation - and has threatened to target Manbij because of the presence of Kurdish fighters there, alongside U.S. troops.