ANKARA

Turkish military and the U.S. army are expected to start training for joint patrols in the northern Syrian city of Manbij soon, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Saturday.

In a statement posted on the Ministry of Defense website, Akar said Turkish and U.S. armed forces were continuing activities as planned to provide security and stability in the region in accordance with the Manbij roadmap.

"Joint training between both countries' armed forces for patrol activities is expected to start soon," Akar said.

Akar's remarks came after the U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said training for a joint Turkish-American patrol in the northern Syrian city of Manbij will start "shortly".

Training for the combined patrols is “starting shortly in Turkey. The gear is in. The officers are in…and it will start shortly," the Department of Defense quoted Mattis as saying in a statement Thursday.

The Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the city in order to stabilize the region.

Reporting by Sarp Ozer; Writing by Can Erozden