At a news conference, Pentagon spokesman Col. Rob Manning said the "assurance patrols" with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) forces started November 2.

"While there is no set timetable for these specific patrols or regularity, these patrols will allow us, Turkey and our SDF partners to maintain the safety and security of the region," said Manning.

On combined joint patrols that started with the Turkish military in Manbij, Manning said: "These patrols and our continued efforts to de-escalate tensions will allow us to focus on our goal of ensuring the enduring" defeat of the Islamic State (IS).

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