U.S. And Turkish Troops Conduct Their First Joint Ground Patrol Of A Syrian 'Safe Zone'

Reuters: Turkish military enters Syria to begin joint U.S. 'safe zone' patrol

AKCAKALE, Turkey/TAL ABYAD, Syria (Reuters) - Armed Turkish military vehicles crossed into war-stricken Syria on Sunday to begin joint patrols with U.S. counterparts to establish a high-stakes “safe zone” along a border region controlled by Kurdish forces.

Vehicles with Turkish flags joined those in Syria with U.S. flags some 15 kilometers (nine miles) east of the Turkish border town of Akcakale, near Syria’s Tel Abyad. With two military helicopters briefly overhead, they headed south for several hours before returning to Turkey.

The land patrol, which Damascus condemned, marks the latest sign of cooperation between the NATO allies east of the Euphrates even while thorny questions remain over the size and oversight of the safe zone.

Read more ....

Update #1: US and Turkish troops conduct first joint ground patrol of Syrian 'safe zone' (CNN)
Update #2: US, Turkey launch joint patrols in northeast Syria (AFP)

WNU Editor: Syria is voicing its objections .... Syria Says Joint U.S.-Turkish Patrols Violate Country's Sovereignty (US News and World Report/Reuters).