Macron acknowledged the "role of the SDF in the fight against IS.”

The French leader reaffirmed the priority of this battle against "the terrorist threat" and assured the SDF of France's support, in particular in stabilizing the security zone in northeast Syria "to prevent the resurgence of IS while awaiting a political solution to the Syrian conflict," the Elysee said.

The backbone of the SDF is the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia which has been driven out of its stronghold Afrin by a Turkish offensive in Syria.

According to AFP the statement said Macron expressed the hope that "a dialogue can be established between the SDF and Turkey with help from France and the international community.”

However, Turkey on Friday turned down a French offer to mediate with the Syrian Democratic Forces dominated by a Kurdish militia, a presidential spokesman said.

"We reject any efforts to promote 'dialogue', 'contact' or 'mediation' between Turkey and those terrorist organizations," Ibrahim Kalin wrote on Twitter.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has put the number who have fled Afrin at 250,000, and says dozens of civilians have been killed in the fighting, in addition to around 1,500 Kurdish fighters.

Reporter’s code: 50101