ANKARA

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday described Daesh as a terrorist group supported by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

"Daesh is a terrorist organization supported by the regime to be used against the Syrian people who are fighting a war of democracy, freedom and dignity," he told an iftar dinner for foreign ambassadors at his presidential palace.

The president's remarks came as Daesh began digging ditches on the Syrian side of the Jarablus border crossing with Turkey in advance of an expected attack by Kurdish fighters.

The Turkish armed forces have been monitoring Daesh’s activities and stepping up security on the border.

"I condemn once again the inhumane and barbaric acts of this group," Erdogan said.

In an apparent reference to claims that Kurdish groups are ousting Arab and Turkmen communities from the territory they capture from Daesh along the border, Erdogan added: "We will never accept attempts to change the demographic structure in Syria."

He went on to claim that Turkey had deported more than 1,300 Syria-bound foreigners suspected of links to Daesh.

"Over 14,000 others have been banned from entering into Turkey on suspicion of terror-linked acts," he added.