UK says Turkey has 'legitimate interest' in Syria border security

Britain said Nato ally Turkey had a "legitimate interest" in the security of its borders, after Ankara launched attacks on Kurdish militia Saturday. Turkey began a new air and ground operation to oust Kurdish militia from their northern Syrian enclave, defying US warnings that this could further destabilise the area after almost seven years of civil war.
A spokesman for Britain's Foreign Office said they were "closely following developments" in the Afrin area. "The UK has regularly discussed issues relating to the conflict in Syria with the Turkish authorities, in line with our shared aim of reducing violence and enabling a political settlement," the spokesman told AFP.
"We recognise that Turkey has a legitimate interest in the security of its borders.