Tasnim � President Donald Trump's warning that if Turkey attacks US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria, the United States will "devastate Turkey economically" has drawn a sharp response from Ankara and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman.

Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin responded to Trump on Twitter by saying, "Terrorists can't be your partners & allies." He also insisted that Turkey "fights against terrorists, not Kurds" as a people, AP reported.

In Sunday's tweet, Trump also warned the Kurdish forces not to "provoke Turkey."

Trump announced via Twitter on December 19 that all American troops in Syria would be withdrawn from the Arab country.

The US withdrawal has begun with shipments of military equipment, US defense officials said. But in coming weeks, the contingent of about 2,000 troops is expected to depart.

Trump's decision to leave Syria, which he initially said would be rapid but later slowed down, shocked US allies and angered the Kurds in Syria.