US troops arrive in Turkey for Manbij patrol training

Turkey's National Defense Ministry on Tuesday evening said the first batch of U.S. army personnel have arrived in Turkey to join training for a joint patrol activity in Manbij, Syria.

A statement on the ministry's official website said efforts to start the training are ongoing.

"Within this scope, the first group of personnel from the U.S. Armed Forces have arrived in Turkey," the ministry said.

"Following the completion of training, joint patrols will start," it added.

Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield, which began in August 2016 and ended in March 2017, was aimed at eliminating the terrorist threat along the Turkish border with the use of the Free Syrian Army, backed by Turkish artillery and air cover.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin. On March 18, Turkish troops and the Free Syrian Army liberated the Afrin district center.

The patrols are the next phase in the fight against terrorists.