Turkey has reportedly proposed that Turkish and US troops be stationed together in Syria's Manbij -- a Kurdish YPG-held town east of Afrin where Turkey is carrying out a military operation to drive out the US-backed militia.

The offer was made to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during his visit to Ankara. Turkey also reportedly proposed to the US that Kurdish YPG fighters withdraw to the east of the Euphrates river in Syria. According to a Turkish official, Washington was considering the proposal. On Thursday, Tillerson held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a bid to ease strained ties over Ankara's operation in Syria. The talks were said to have been "productive and open".