Zakharova said for Turkey to begin operations without an agreement with the Syrian government was a "direct violation of Syria’s sovereignty” and could become a cause for "further escalation of tension” in the country.
She also stated Turkey’s military action’s "could lead to a dangerous deterioration of the already difficult situation in Syria.”
Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency on Wednesday cited Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan as saying Ankara was "set to clear two areas of northern Syria, near the Turkish border, of terrorist elements.”
Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG) to be an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has waged a decades-long war against the Turkish military. Ankara considers both groups to be terrorist organizations.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said in April that Turkey would continue its cross-border operations against the YPG and the PKK until "the last terrorist is neutralized.”
Erdogan said the planned operations would include northern Syria’s Tal Rifat and Manbij, in order to create a "30 km security zone south of the Turkish border.”
The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), also known as Rojava, falls on the Syrian border with Iraq and Turkey.
The US State Department Spokesman, Ned Price, warned on Tuesday Turkey’s operation in Syria would destabilize the region and said the US was "deeply concerned” about increased military activity in the north of Syria and the impact on the civilian population.
Erdogan has said the US and Russia have failed to live up to their commitments to provide a safe zone in the border region.
Reporter's code: 50101