Russia has expressed deep concern at Turkey's military operation in norther Syria, hours after Turkish tanks advanced into an area held by the Islamic State (IS) group.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on August 24 that Turkey's air and ground operation could lead to "further degeneration of the situation in the conflict zone" and "flare-ups of interethnic tensions between Kurds and Arabs."
Moscow has supported President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's conflict, while Ankara has backed the rebels fighting his regime.
Syria's government also condemned the Turkish offensive, which involved Ankara-backed Syrian rebels from the Free Syrian Army.
The operation, named Euphrates Shield, targeted the IS-held border town of Jarablus, but also appears aimed at preventing Kurdish forces from expanding further across northern Syria.
