Syria: UN chief expresses ‘deep concern’ over Turkish offensive

Copenhagen: The UN secretary general on Thursday expressed “deep concern” and called for a “de-escalation” of  the spiralling violence in  Syria , a day after Turkey launched an offensive in Kurdish-controlled areas.
“I want to express my deep concern about the escalation of conflicts we are witnessing in eastern  Syria ,” Antonio Guterres told a press conference in Copenhagen.
“At the present moment what we must do is to make sure that we have a de-escalation and of course I’m worried,” Guterres said.
He said any solution to the conflict must “respect the sovereignty of the territory and the unity of  Syria “.
His remarks came as the five European members of the UN Security Council — France, Germany, Britain, Belgium and Poland — called on Ankara to halt its  “unilateral” military operation against Syrian Kurdish forces.
The Turkish military, supported by Syrian proxies, began its offensive in northeastern  Syria  on Wednesday, shortly after the US withdrew its troops from the area — a move which effectively saw America abandon its Kurdish allies in the fight against Islamic State (IS).