We as Syrian Democratic Forces take the matter into account and are fully prepared to fiercely respond to any imminent attack on Syrian soil."[15] The Northern Democratic Brigade denounced the invasion as an attempt by Turkey to establish the "terrorist" Muslim Brotherhood as a ruling force in northern Syria.[16] Syrian opposition The Syrian Interim Government strongly supported the Turkish military operation.[17] The Syrian Turkmen Assembly stated: "As a result of the extermination and exile movement of the terrorist organization, the Turkmen presence in the east of the Euphrates had suffered a severe wound." The statement also underlined that the operation was a "mandatory and legitimate intervention".[18] Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's leader, Abu Mohammad al-Joulani had previously stated prior to the start of the offensive that he would support a Turkish military operation in northern Syria against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), and that they were enemies of the Syrian revolution.[19] However, HTS fighters have said they are concerned that the operation could enable the release of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant fighters and their families from SDF detention camps and prisons, and that they would flee to HTS-held areas in Idlib and carry out attacks.[20] Influential jihadist cleric Abu Anas al-Masri, based in Idlib Governorate, argued that the Turkish operation was to the overall benefit of the rebels in Idlib, because it would take Turkey's attention away from the region, weaken American influence in the Middle East, and result in two anti-jihadist factions (Turkey and the SDF) harming each other. He objected to rebels in Idlib assisting the offensive, as he views Erdogan as an apostate and an enemy of the Syrian people.[21]