(Photo: AFP)

US President Donald Trump on Monday vowed "big sanctions on Turkey coming" and denied that removing US troops from Syria was risking a mass escape of ISIL prisoners held by the Kurdish forces.   

"Kurds may be releasing some to get us involved. Easily recaptured by Turkey or European Nations from where many came, but they should move quickly. Big sanctions on Turkey coming! Do people really think we should go to war with NATO Member Turkey? Never ending wars will end!" 

Turkey will not back down from its offensive against Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria "no matter what anyone says," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, adding that the battle would continue until "ultimate victory" is achieved.

"We are determined to continue the operation until the end, without paying attention to threats. We will absolutely finish the job we started. Our battle will continue until ultimate victory is achieved," Erdogan said during a speech in Baku.

He also slammed the European Union and Arab League for their criticism of Turkey's operation and asked for international funds for Ankara's "safe zone" plans in northeast Syria. 

Kurdish authorities said Sunday that 800 ISIL family members being held in a camp at Ain Issa had fled due to Turkish bombing.   
Turkey denied that its offensive in northern Syria had allowed ISIL prisoners to break out of detention camps, charging Monday that Kurdish militants had instead deliberately "emptied" a prison.   

"There is only one Daesh (ISIL) prison in our (operation) region and we have seen it was emptied by the YPG (the Kurdish People's Protection Units militia)," Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told reporters.  

"There are pictures and films of it," he added, without naming the prison.   

Erdogan earlier hit out at "disinformation" reports that Turkey's offensive against Kurdish forces had allowed jihadists to escape.   

"This is actually disinformation aimed at provoking America or the West," he said.   

Relatives back in France told AFP that Kurdish guards had forced the women and children to leave the camp