US President Donald Trump has threatened to "devastate Turkey economically" if it attacks Kurdish forces in Syria following a planned pullout of US troops, the BBC reports.
In two tweets on Sunday, Mr Trump said that he didn't want the Kurds to provoke Turkey either.
Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions. Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2019
US forces have fought alongside a Kurdish militia in northern Syria against the Islamic State (IS) group.
Turkey, however, regards the People's Protection Units (YPG) as terrorists.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has spoken angrily about American support for the group and vowed to crush it.
....Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey. Russia, Iran and Syria have been the biggest beneficiaries of the long term U.S. policy of destroying ISIS in Syria - natural enemies. We also benefit but it is now time to bring our troops back home. Stop the ENDLESS WARS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2019
Mr Trump's comments on Sunday followed further criticism of his abrupt decision to withdraw US forces from Syria.