The Syrian Kurdish-led administration in northeastern Syria said on Saturday that 191,069 people have been displaced as Turkey's offensive against a Kurdish militia in the region entered its fourth day, escalating an operation that has drawn warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe.

In a statement, the Kurdish-led authority said the attack had caused successive waves of displacement from Dayrik also known as al-Malikiya at the Iraqi border to Kobani some 400 km (250 miles) to the west.

The United Nations World Food Program also said on Saturday more than 100,000 people from the towns of Ras Al-Ayn and Tal Abyad have been displaced by the escalation of violence in Syria.

Turkey on Wednesday launched a military operation against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which Ankara regards as a terrorist group with links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). 

The assault began days after U.S. President Donald Trump pulled American troops out of the way, prompting denunciations from senior members of his own Republican Party who say he abandoned the Syrian Kurds, loyal allies of Washington.

China has urged Turkey to show "restraint" and said that Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected, calling for joint efforts to create favorable conditions for the political settlement on Syria's problems. 

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China urges 'restraint' on Turkey's military operations in Syria

World reactions to Turkey's military advance into Syria

Kurds: SDF denies Turkey's capture of Syrian town center

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has denied that Turkish-backed militants had taken control of the Syrian border town of Ras al Ain on Saturday after a senior Turkish security official said the town center had been seized.

Marvan Qamishlo, an SDF military media official, said Turkish-backed forces had entered one neighborhood of Ras al Ain, the industrial district, following hours of heavy Turkish shelling that had forced a "tactical retreat" from that area.

"Now the SDF's attack has started and there are very fierce clashes now," he told Reuters. "The clashes are continuing in the industrial district," he said, saying this was the part of Ras al Ain closest to the Turkish border.

Iran: Tehran offers to mediate between Syrian Kurds, Turkey

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif offered on Saturday to engage Syrian Kurds, Syria's government and Turkey in talks to establish security along the Turkish-Syrian border, referring to a 21-year-old security accord that required Damascus to stop harboring PKK militants. 

Damascus has said it is committed to the Adana accord.

"The Adana Agreement between Turkey and Syria – still valid – can be the better path to achieving security," Zarif said. "Iran can help bring together the Syrian Kurds, the Syrian government and Turkey so that the Syrian Army together with Turkey can guard the border." 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday the 1998 accord could only be implemented if there was a political settlement to Syria's eight-year-old war. He also said implementing the Adana pact would require the Syrian government to be in control of northeastern Syria – which it is not. 

Iran has regularly urged Turkey to respect Syria's territorial integrity and avoid military action in northeastern Syria.

Russia: Putin says Syria must be freed from foreign military presence  

Syria must be freed from foreign military presence, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday, according to Russian news agencies.

"Everyone who is illegitimately on the territory of any state, in this case Syria, must leave this territory. This applies to all states," he said. 

Putin also said Russian forces in Syria were also ready to leave the country as soon as new legitimate Syrian government tells Moscow it no longer needs its help.

Arab: Turkey's offensive 'invasion' of Arab land  

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Saturday called Turkey's military operation an "invasion of an Arab state's land and an aggression on its sovereignty."

Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Alhakim, president of the current Arab League session, also condemned Turkey's offensive into Syria during an emergency meeting for the body, called by Egypt. He called on the League to reinstate Syria's membership in the body.

(Input from agencies)