Turkish military vehicles patrolling in northeastern Syria this month as part of joint patrols with the United States. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
PARIS/ WASHINGTON: France urged Turkey to "avoid any initiative" that could harm the coalition fight against the Islamic State (IS) group, also known as Da'ish, in Syria, where the United States started withdrawing troops on Monday from key border areas.
In a statement, the foreign ministry in Paris also cautioned that captured European militants in the country's northeast must remain in "safe detention".
White House denies involvement
US armed forces will not be involved or support a planned Turkish operation in northern Syria, the White House press secretary said on Sunday after a phone call between President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Trump, Erdogan discuss Syria 'safe zone'
US forces "having defeated the ISIS territorial 'Caliphate' will no longer be in the immediate area," the press secretary said in a statement.
Turkey will now be responsible for all ISIS fighters in the area captured over the past two years, according to the statement.
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