Turkish offensive violates international law: German FM

Turkey's offensive in northeastern Syria falls foul of international law, Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Sunday.

"We don't believe that an attack on Kurdish units or Kurdish militia is legitimate under international law," Heiko Maas told Germany broadcaster ZDF.

"If there is no basis in international law for such an invasion, then it can't be in accordance with international law," he said, in his strongest comments yet on the assault.

Ankara launched a cross-border attack against Syria's Kurds on October 9 after the United States announced a military pullout from the north of the war-torn country, to widespread international criticism.

NATO member Turkey has justified the offensive as necessary to secure its borders. A US-brokered ceasefire was announced late Thursday, giving Kurdish forces until Tuesday evening to withdraw from a buffer area Ankara wants to create inside Syrian territory along its southern frontier.

On Sunday, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces fully ..