"If France takes any steps regarding its military presence in northern Syria, this would be an illegitimate step that would go against international law and in fact, it would be an invasion," Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said.

"Especially if they intend to support terror group elements or give direct or indirect protection with armed forces, this would be a really calamitous step," he added during a visit to the northeastern province of Giresun, AFP reported.

Temperatures were raised after French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday met a delegation of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) made up of Kurdish and Arab fighters.

Kurdish officials said afterwards that France was planning to send new troops to Manbij -- a northern Syrian town held by the Kurdish YPG -- a claim Paris denied.

Turkey itself sent troops into Syria and launched an operation against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in its Afrin enclave on January 20 and drove out the group from the city on March 18.

Macron's office on Friday said Paris was not planning any new military operation on the ground in northern Syria outside the international coalition against the Islamic State extremist group.

Reporter’s code: 50101