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

According to Sputnik news agency the foreign ministry's statement comes the day after Turkish President Erdogan claimed control over the Kurdish 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.

On March 16, the Turkish president vowed to control the territory of the eastern bank of the Euphrates in Syria up to the border with Iraq, 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.

Reporter’s code: 50101