According to a statement by the Turkish Ministry of National Defence, a six-person delegation from the US has arrived in Urfa province bordering Syria for preliminary preparation as part of works underway for the establishment of a “safe zone” in the north of Syria.

The Turkish Ministry said that the joint operations center is planned to be put into operation in the coming days.

Turkey and the US announced on august 7 that both sides had agreed to set up as soon as possible a joint operations center in Turkey to coordinate and manage the establishment of the safe zone together.

The decision was announced following talks held between Turkish and the US military delegations at the Turkish Ministry of National Defence on August 5-7, 2019 regarding establishment of a safe zone in the north of Syria.

Turkey and the US, however, did not clarify what kind of a corridor would be formed, and when, if talks are held with the Federation of North and East Syria on the matter, or where the Syrian refugees would be settled.