Turkish war planes have launched air strikes on Kurdish fighters in northern Syria in a move likely to raise tensions with the US.
Turkey wants to oust the YPG militia, which it calls a terrorist group, from Afrin region on its southern border.
The YPG is part of a US-backed alliance battling the Islamic State group.
Russia has moved its troops away from Afrin, saying it is concerned but will not interfere. Syria denounced Turkey’s “aggression” and “brutal attack”.
Turkey had been shelling the area for two days, ahead of its declaration of a military operation on Saturday.
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Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says Turkey has notified all actors involved – including the Syrian government – about the offensive. Syria denied this was the case.
