"While recognizing Turkey's security needs, the President of the Republic told his Turkish counterpart of his concern over the military intervention launched Saturday in the canton of Afrin," the French presidency said.

According to Sputnik news agency the call came as the United States voiced alarm that the operation against the People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara sees as a “terror” group, could endanger attempts to end the Syrian civil war.

In his call with Erdogan, Macron stressed the need to combat IS and "all jihadists present as a matter of priority" and also expressed concern about the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria, "particularly in Idlib province and Eastern Ghouta".

At France's urging, the UN Security Council on Monday discussed the offensive against the YPG and the worsening humanitarian crisis but did not condemn or demand an end to the sensitive Turkish operation.

Reporter’s code: 50101