Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned on Monday that the great prize of seizing ISIS-held territory was threatened by Turkey's offensive in northern Syria.
Addressing a meeting of Nato parliamentarians in London, Mr Stoltenberg demanded all the 29 allies "step-up" to back a solution to the issue of ISIS foreign fighters that have been held in Syrian Defence Forces camps since the group was crushed in its stronghold.
"We must not put in jeopardy the gains we have made against our common enemy," Mr Stoltenberg said, adding that while the global coalition had defeated ISIS, the group had not gone away and could stage a resurgence.
While balancing criticism from the representatives of many Nato countries, Mr Stoltenberg recalled on his visit to Turkey last week that he had cautioned against the backlash.
"Turkey is important for Nato," he said. "We risk undermining the unity we need in the fight against [ISIS]."
The meeting also heard from the British defence secretary, Ben Wallace, who was challenged over his tone towards Turkey.
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A Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighter fires a weapon in the town of Tal Abyad, Syria October 13, 2019. Reuters -
Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighters sit in a military truck in the village of Yabisa, near the Turkish-Syrian border, Syria, October 13, 2019. Reuters -
Smoke rises over the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain, as seen from the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar, Turkey. The military action is part of a campaign to extend Turkish control of more of northern Syria, a large swath of which is currently held by Syrian Kurds, whom Turkey regards as a threat. U.S. President Donald Trump granted tacit American approval to this campaign, withdrawing his country's troops from several Syrian outposts near the Turkish border. Getty Images -
Turkish-based Syrian fighters sit inside an armoured personnel carrier near the Syrian border town of Tal Abyad, as they prepare to take part in the Turkish-led assault on northeastern Syria. Ankara stepped up its assault on Kurdish-held border towns in northeastern Syria, defying mounting threats of international sanctions, even from Washington. AFP -
Wounded Turkish-backed Syrian fighters pass Akcakale disrict near Turkey-Syria border wall Akcakale district in Sanliurfa, Turkey. Turkey has launched an offensive targeting Kurdish forces in north-eastern Syria, days after the US withdrew troops from the area. EPA -
A Turkish-backed Syrian rebel rests as they gather near the border town of Ras al-Ain, as Turkey and it's allies continued their assault on Kurdish-held border towns in northeastern Syria. Turkey kept up its assault on Kurdish-held border towns in northeastern Syria on Saturday on the fourth day of an offensive that is drawing growing international condemnation, even from Washington. AFP -
People mourn in front of the grave of Halil Yagmur who was killed in a mortar attack a day earlier in Suruc near northern Syria border, during funeral ceremony in Suruc. Ten Turkish civilians were killed in cross-border shelling on Friday, while four of Turkey's soldiers died as Ankara pressed on with its offensive against Kurdish militants in Syria. Eight civilians were killed and 35 injured in one mortar strike in Nusaybin in Mardin province, according to the governor's office cited by local media. AFP -
A group of Turkey-backed Syrian fighters prepares for offensive at a village near Turkish border in Yabisa, Syria in this still image taken from a video. Reuters -
A Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighter sits with his weapon near the border town of Tel Abyad, Syria. REUTERS -
This picture taken Turkey near the town of Suruc shows a US observation post near the Syrian town of Kobani Kobane where the Pentagon said an explosion occurred "within a few hundred meters." The US said on October 11, 2019 its troops had come under artillery fire and warned that the US was prepared to meet aggression with "immediate defensive action," but Turkey denied targeting the US base. Turkey's Defense minister said they had returned fire after Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) shelled a Turkish border police station from hills located one kilometre (1,100 yards) away from the observation post. US troops pulled back from positions along the Turkey-Syria border last week ahead of a Turkish operation against Kurdish militants in Syria. The YPG was a close ally of the US in its fight against the Islamic State group but is seen by Ankara as a "terrorist" off-shoot of Kurdish insurgents in Turkey. AFP -
A Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighter holds the Syrian opposition flag near the border town of Tel Abyad, Syria. REUTERS -
Relatives mourn during a funeral of a Syrian Democratic Forces fighter in the Syrian town of Qamishli, Turkey's military says it has captured a key Syrian border town Ras al-Ayn under heavy bombardment in its most significant gain as its offensive against Kurdish fighters presses into its fourth day. AP Photo -
Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters evacuate an injured fellow combatant in Tel Abyad, Syria. AP -
Syrians bury Syrian Democratic Forces fighters killed fighting Turkish advance in the Syrian town of Qamishli, Turkey's military says it has captured a key Syrian border town Ras al-Ayn under heavy bombardment in its most significant gain as its offensive against Kurdish fighters presses into its fourth day. AP Photo -
Turkish police special forces patrol in Akcakale on the Turkish-Syrian border, in Sanliurfa province, Turkey. REUTERS -
A Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighter holds a weapon as he stands with his fellow fighters near the border town of Tel Abyad, Syria. REUTERS -
A Turkish military armoured vehicle fires towards the Syrian town of Tal Abyad from the Turkish side of the border in Akcakale, Turkey. The military action is part of a campaign to extend Turkish control of more of northern Syria, a large swath of which is currently held by Syrian Kurds, whom Turkey regards as a threat. U.S. President Donald Trump granted tacit American approval to this campaign, withdrawing his country's troops from several Syrian outposts near the Turkish border. Getty Images -
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu visits the Syrian border, in Akcakale district in Sanliurfa, Turkey. Turkey has launched an offensive targeting Kurdish forces in north-eastern Syria, days after the US withdrew troops from the area. EPA -
Syrian patient Fatima al-Issa who was hit by shrapnel during Turkish bombardment of Ras al-Ain, receives treatment at a hospital in the town of Tal Tamr in the countryside of Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province. Ankara stepped up its assault on Kurdish-held border towns in northeastern Syria in an offensive that has so far displaced some 100,000 people, according to the United Nations, while aid groups have warned of yet another humanitarian disaster in Syria's eight-year-old war if the offensive is not stopped. AFP
"It is absolutely clear that Turkey has had, and still does have, a threat emanating towards it from groups such as the PKK, a terrorist organisation in this country as well, and that Turkey needs to do what it sometimes has to do to defend itself," Mr Wallace said.
"However, it is our view that what has happened at present needs to be taken in a measured way in order for that security to take place for Turkey, but in a way that upholds the value of international law and humanitarian rights."
Britain signed up to an EU statement on the offensive last week but has not joined France and other countries in adopting an export ban on weaponry to Turkey.
“This is a situation we did not want to develop in this way. But it is a situation that has happened and we are trying to make sure that human rights are upheld in that process,” he said.
Karl Lamers, a German delegate was applauded when he cast doubt on the legality of the Turkish military action.
"Do you really think that this is covered by the Charter of the United Nations as an act of self-defence," he asked Mr Wallace. "If you are convinced that Turkey has a legitimate reason for invading Syria, what would be your answer to the Turks if they were to ask you, in reference to Article five that Nato should support them, are you willing to do so?"
Britain was reported to have held out against an EU statement that "condemned" Turkey on Monday.
European governments have sought to pile pressure on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the incursion. "We don't have magic powers but what we can do is put all pressure possible to stop this action," Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said.
Spain backs a Europe-wide arms embargo.
Germany's Heiko Maas said the offensive jeopardised the drive for a political solution to Syria's civil war
"It is important to remain in dialogue with Turkey in order to be able to influence it," he said. "If that is not successful, we will have to reserve the right to take further measures."
The EU last week issued a statement in the name of all 28 member states to condemn the offensive, warning it risked unleashing a humanitarian disaster and could undermine the fight against the Islamic State group.
