ANKARA, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and the United States planned to start joint land patrols in the safe zone in northern Syria on Sunday, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Friday.

"In this context, we expect the activities to be determined in a certain order and pace, and we wish to progress in this regard," Akar said on a visit to Turkey's southern province of Malatya.

"The talks (with the United States) lasted for a few months. At the end of August, a general agreement was reached on a specific schedule within a certain timetable," Akar added.

On Aug. 7, Turkish and U.S. officials agreed to set up a safe zone and develop a "peace corridor" in northern Syria which would address Ankara's security concerns about a Kurdish faction that controls the territory.

The deal envisages withdrawal of the People's Protection Units (YPG) towards the south of the safe zone. The safe zone would also facilitate the return of displaced Syrians currently living in Turkey to their home country.

Turkish drones started operating in northern Syria on Wednesday as part of the agreement. The military officials from the two NATO allies also established a joint operation center in Akcakale.

Washington and Ankara had been at odds for a long time over plans for northeastern Syria, where the United States has allied with the YPG, the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party that outlawed by Turkey, in battles against the Islamic State (IS) militants.