President Tayyip Erdogan has said that it will start an operation to clear the east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria in a few days.

In a television speech Erdogan said our target is never U.S. soldiers.

He said this step will allow for the path to a political solution to be opened and for healthier cooperation.

Turkey said last month that it wanted the agreement on Manbij to be fully carried out by the end of the year. In November, Turkish and U.S. troops began joint patrols in northern Syria.

That cooperation has been complicated as Turkey has shelled Kurdish fighters to the east of the Euphrates.