Turkey's Ibrahim Kalin if we contact Assad regime, this does not mean its legitimacy

Following a Cabinet meeting in the presidential complex in Ankara, Ibrahim Kalin said, "Turkish intelligence departments may sometimes have contacts with various regime elements in al-Hasaka and Qamishli, including Damascus , in the framework of Turkey's security and the overall safety of Turkish operations in Syria."

But, he added: "This does not mean that Turkey recognizes the legitimacy of the regime." 

Kalin said Turkey would not allow any terror threats from east of the Euphrates River in Syria and also stressed the importance of the roadmap for stability in Manbij, northern Syria.

Turkey has promised a counter-terrorist operation in Syria, east of the Euphrates, following two similar successful operations since 2016.

The Manbij deal between Turkey and the US focuses on the withdrawal of YPG/PKK from the city to stabilize the region, which is in the northeast of northern Syria's Aleppo province.