By the militants he meant the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who are in the control of the northern part of Syria since the outbreak of the civil war in Syria in 2011.

Erdogan made his remarks during a speech to his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmakers in parliament, Ahval reported.

"If the terrorists here are not cleared as we were promised, we have the legitimate right to mobilize once again," Deutsche Welle Turkish cited Erdogan as saying, referring to predominantly Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia, the armed branch of the SDF.

"The terror group and the threats it poses to our country are continuing in areas along our Syrian border that are not under our control,’’ he added.

The Turkish president also expressed concern about Syria's northwest Idlib region, where the Ankara-Moscow brokered ceasefire deal in March to stop heavy fighting between Syrian government forces and Turkey-backed rebels.

"The attack by Russia on Syrian National Army forces in the Idlib region shows that lasting peace in the region is not wanted," Erdogan said.

At least 78 people were killed and scores wounded on Monday, following air strikes on a camp in northwest Syria run by Turkish-backed rebel fighters, according to London-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Erdogan also said Western countries mocking Islam were looking to “relaunch the Crusades,” heightening a row with France over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad that have stirred anger across Muslim-majority countries.

Standing against attacks on Islam’s Prophet was “an issue of honor,” Erdogan said.

”Since the Crusades, the seeds of evil and hatred have started falling on these (Muslim) lands and that’s when peace was disrupted,” the Turkish president added.

Erdogan on Monday called on Turks to boycott French goods amid a row over plans by Macron to take a tougher stance on radical Islam.

Erdogan’s remarks follow an announcement by Turkish officials that Ankara would take legal and diplomatic steps in response to a caricature of Erdogan in France’s Charlie Hebdo magazine, which officials called a “disgusting effort” to “spread its cultural racism and hatred”.

Reporter’s code: 50101