Syria has demanded the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces, saying that it reserves right to take action if they remain.
“The United States and Turkey maintain an illegal military presence in northern Syria,” Syrian Foreign Minister Walid All Moallem told the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday.
“Any foreign forces operating in our territories without our authorisation are occupying forces and should withdraw immediately.”
Over more than eight years, Syria’s devastating civil war has drawn numerous foreign militaries and thousands of foreign fighters battling for power.
Most of the country has returned to government control. But rebels and extremists still hold Idlib in the northwest, and the oil-rich northeast, held by US-backed Kurdish groups.
Speaking on the sidelines of UNGA on Friday, a senior US official said that Syrian president Bashar Al Assad and his backers won't be allowed to pursue a military campaign and seek a political solution at the same time.
The remarks came a day after the US concluded that the Assad regime had again used chemical weapons this year, soon after starting an offensive to reclaim the rebel-held north-western province of Idlib.
Ambassador James Jeffrey, the US special envoy for Syria, said a constitutional committee agreed between the government in Damascus and the opposition meant it was time for Mr Al Assad to choose between war or peace negotiations.
The UN confirmed on Monday agreement between the Syrian government and opposition on the constitutional committee.
