More than 50,000 people currently live in al-Hol camp, the largest detention camp for suspected ISIS fighters and their families.
The Syrian Democratic Forces, which control northeastern Syria, have told the BBC they may be forced to abandon camps for ISIS detainees.
These forces, known by the acronym “SDF”, said they would not have the capability to guard these camps if Turkey launched a new ground operation there.
Turkey has attacked hundreds of targets in the region in response to the bombing of Istanbul.
At least six people were killed and dozens injured in the blast. Turkey has blamed Kurds linked to Syrian fighters in northern Syria for the bombings.
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces denied any involvement in the attack, accusing Turkey of using the bombing as a pretext to justify a long-planned cross-border offensive.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the air strikes were just the beginning and that he was determined to secure Turkey’s border with Syria by establishing a “security corridor”.
But the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, General Mazloum Abdi, told the BBC that the ground operation would lead to the return of the terrorist organization Isis.
“This will lead to a second civil war in Syria and our counter-terrorism operations against ISIS will stop. As part of the international coalition, we have fought and defeated ISIS and what Turkey is doing will undermine everything,” he said.
General Mazloum Abdi said he halted operations against ISIS terrorist organization, due to Turkish airstrikes
The Syrian Democratic Forces said a series of Turkish air strikes targeted al-Hol camp. The attack resulted in the killing of seven security personnel responsible for guarding the camp. Six foreign detainees escaped during the attack but were later recaptured.
Al-Hol camp is the largest camp hosting family members of ISIS militants, as more than 50,000 people live there, two-thirds of whom are children.
General Abdi warned that further Turkish attacks would directly affect the ability of his forces to hold these positions, saying: “Our forces will be busy protecting our people and families, and we will not be able to guard the camps.” .
He added: “Turkish authorities have targeted civilian facilities and services, such as power plants and oil production facilities. This will lead to mass migration and internal displacement.”
Turkish airstrikes have hit civilian infrastructure and oil fields in northern Syria
“We have been fighting terrorism with the international community for eight years. We fought together to defeat Isis, and now the attacks of the Turkish state are undermining all of this”, says the general.
“The consequences would be really serious, not just for us but for the whole world,” he added.
