Germany calls Turkey with concerns about escalation in Syria

BERLIN – German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Monday called his Turkish counterpart to express concerns about an escalation in northwest Syria and possible humanitarian impacts on the local civilian population, the German ministry said.

"Foreign Minister Gabriel just telephoned his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu and made clear his concerns about an escalation of the situation in northern Syria and the possible humanitarian impact on the civilian population," a ministry official said.

Both officials agreed that the Syrian political process should now be continued in an intensive manner, the official said.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said there would be "no stepping back" from a Turkish air and grouped offensive aimed at crushing US-backed Kurdish YPG fighters who control the Afrin region.