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Damascus Demands Turkish Forces' Immediate Withdrawal From Syrian Lands

© Sputnik / Mikhail Alayeddin / Go to the mediabankJenderes village in Afrin Canton in the north of Syria after aircraft and artillery shelling by the Turkish Armed Forces
Jenderes village in Afrin Canton in the north of Syria after aircraft and artillery shelling by the Turkish Armed Forces - Sputnik International
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According to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, Ankara's seizure of Afrin in the course of its Olive Branch Operation in Syria violates the principles enshrined in the UN Charter.

Damascus has stated that Turkish Forces in the Syrian northern enclave of Afrin are "illegitimate" and demanded "invading forces withdraw immediately from Syrian lands they have occupied."

READ MORE: German Consulate on Crete Stormed As Turkish Forces Advance on Afrin (VIDEO)

The foreign ministry's statement comes the day after Turkish President Erdogan claimed control over the Kurdish-held city of Afrin. Earlier, Erdogan's press secretary Ibrahim Kalin had stated that Turkey was not going to hand in control over Afrin to Damascus.

Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army members are celebrating in Afrin, Syria March 18, 2018 - Sputnik International
Turkish Army Seizes US Arms Left by YPG 'Terrorists' in Afrin - Deputy PM
On March 16, the Tukish president vowed to clear the territory from the eastern bank of the Euphrates in Syria up to the border with Iraq of terrorists, after it does the same in Afrin and Manbij cities.

The United States, in turn, announced later today that it will take measures to ensure deconfliction with Turkey in the Syrian town of Manbij, Pentagon Director of Defense Press Operations Col. Rob Manning told reporters.

"As you know, we have US forces in Manbij. We do not have US forces in Afrin, in western Syria, but there are US forces in Manbij," Manning said. "It's been very clear to all parties that US forces are there. And we'll take measures to make sure that we deconflict."

Damascus has repeatedly condemned Ankara's operation as a violation of Syria's sovereignty. Turkey jointly with the opposition Free Syrian Army forces, launched Operation Olive Branch in Afrin in order to "clear" its border with Syria from terrorists. Turkey considers the Democratic Union Party (PYD), a Kurdish political party in northern Syria, and the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia to be linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), listed as a terrorist organization by Ankara.

© SputnikTurkish Operation in Afrin
Turkish Operation in Afrin - Sputnik International
Turkish Operation in Afrin
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