WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US troops marched their first patrol in northeastern Syria on Monday after withdrawing from the area earlier in October.

A source in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and an eyewitness said that US forces were carrying out a patrol on the Syrian-Turkish border, according to «Reuters».

Five armored vehicles carrying American flags patrolled from their base in Rumailan (in Hasaka province) heading to the border with Turkey.

For its part, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that US forces are seeking to maintain their presence at a few points from the eastern border of Syria.

"The Americans want to prevent Russia and the regime forces from deploying in the area east of the city of Qamishli," said Rami Abdulrahman, director of the observatory.

The US patrol was accompanied by Kurdish fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Washington's ally for years in the war on IS.

The US patrols come after the arrival of US reinforcements to Syria from Iraq.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the presence of US troops in Syria was aimed at protecting oil facilities.

In Ankara, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said yesterday that his country was in talks with Russia on the extradition of 18 individuals believed to be Syrian government forces, after being detained near the northern city of Ras al-Ain. The Turkish Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that 18 people were detained near Ras al-Ain targeted by Turkey in its aggression on northeastern Syria, adding that the case is being coordinated with Russian officials.