Top US envoy in Syria says they oppose ground offensive by Turkey

US envoy to Northeastern Syria Nicholas Granger said the US “strongly opposes military action that further destabilizes the lives of communities and families in Syria," and called for an immediate deescalation.

"The escalation in Syria in recent days is unacceptably dangerous and threatens the safety of American civilians and personnel. These actions risk the Coalition's hard-won progress against ISIS and our ongoing fight against ISIS to ensure that the group can never re-emerge," Granger said in an online interview with the SDF affiliated ANHA news agency.

Granger added: "Our deepest concern and condolences for the loss of civilian life that occurred as a result of the recent escalation. We have consistently communicated our serious concerns to Turkey about the impact of the escalation on civilians and the goal of eliminating ISIS. We have urged not to conduct such operations as our Syrian partner has urged us to Non-aggression or escalation.”

"We are in continuous contact with the Turkish authorities to urge them to stop military operations," Granger said.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) on Tuesday said Turkey conducted a drone attack onto a base of the US-led International Coalition at Al-Hasakah, which also houses counter-terrorism units of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi said the building hit by a Turkish drone was 500 meters away from the base of the US troops.

Following the attack, Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder said the recent airstrikes “directly threatened the safety of US personnel who are working in Syria with local partners to defeat ISIS and maintain custody of more than ten thousand ISIS detainees.”

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday also said that the American troops were put at risk by a Turkish drone strike.