Kurdish leaders travelled to Brussels on Thursday to appeal for help from the European Union against Turkey's military offensive into northern Syria.

Ilham Ehmed held a press conference in the European parliament, where she was flanked by supportive MEPs who urged the EU not to "abandon" the autonomous region.

Turkish forces entered Syria on Wednesday, as jets overhead launched a barrage of airstrikes killing at least eight civilians, including two children.

Speaking through a translator, Ms Emend called on the EU "to implement a no-fly zone to punish Turkey for violating international law" and for member states recall their ambassadors from Ankara.

Ms Ehmed, who chairs the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), said she would be meeting with European leaders on her visit. She said that the United States had reneged on promises to keep the region safe, despite its forces' role in combatting Isis.

Turkey launches offensive into Syria Show all 25 1 /25 Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish soldiers with armored vehicles EPA Turkey launches offensive into Syria A woman flees with her children during Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Smoke billows following Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain in the Hasakeh province along the Turkish border on October 9, 2019. - Turkey launched an assault on Kurdish forces in northern Syria with air strikes and explosions reported along the border. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the start of the attack on Twitter, labelling it "Operation Peace Spring". (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images) DELIL SOULEIMAN AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria The first group of Turkish infantry prepare to enter Syria on the border Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Smoke billows from targets inside Syria AP Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish armoured vehicles enter Syria in Akcakale Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians leave as smoke rises from Ras al-Ain AFP Turkey launches offensive into Syria A multi-rocket launcher fires in an unknown location Turkish Defence Ministry via Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria People wave as Turkish soldiers prepare to cross the border Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Girls stand together in Ras al Ain town Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria A woman walks as smoke billows following Turkish bombardment in Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria A Turkish army's tank drives down from a truck towards the border with Syria AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish jet taxis on tarmac after returning to a military base in southeast Diyarbakir Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria A Turkish armored vehicle drives down a road during a military operation in Kurdish areas of northern Syria EPA Turkey launches offensive into Syria People sit on belongings at a back of a truck as they flee Ras al Ain town Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkey-backed Syrian opposition fighters enter Tel Abyad AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria People flee Tal Abyad North Press Agency/Reuters TV Turkey launches offensive into Syria People wave as Turkish soldiers prepare to cross the border into Syria Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee with their belongings AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee during Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain in the Hasakeh province along the Turkish border on October 9, 2019. - Turkey launched a broad assault on Kurdish-controlled areas in northeastern Syria today, with intensive bombardment paving the way for an invasion made possible by the withdrawal of US troops. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images) DELIL SOULEIMAN AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, speaks with Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, left, as they watch the operation by Turkish forces in Kurdish areas EPA Turkey launches offensive into Syria Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Tal Abyad AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkey-backed members of Syrian National Army prepare for moving to Turkey with heavy armed vehicles EPA

Kurdish-led forces from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were instrumental allies in the fighting against Isis, with the US supplying them with arms and weapons. The SDF lost some 11,000 fighters in the years-long battle against the militants.

The EU has condemned Turkey's attack on the region, with a joint statement of the 28 member states calling "upon Turkey to cease the unilateral military action."

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker also told the European Parliament on Wednesday that "Turkey must cease the ongoing military operation" and that it should not expect EU support to deal with refugees.

But the bloc has stopped short of committing to any action, diplomatic or otherwise to put an end to its Nato ally's offensive.

Both sides in the conflict are watching to see whether the EU will take action: on Thursday Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened in a speech to "open the gates and send 3.6 million refugees" to Europe if the continent's leaders interfered.

Speaking alongside Ms Ehmed, Özlem Demirel, a leftist German MEP who is vice chair of delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, called for the EU to "use all diplomatic and economic measures to prevent Turkey from continuing".

"I regret the fact that the EU has waited a long time before giving a clear statement about the attack from Turkey. I think we could have heard clear words much earlier," she said.

Ms Ehmed told reporters: "The United States promised us that the region would never be attacked by Turkey, but the United States never stood by her promises. We call on the Untied States to fulfil her promises to stop this aggression."

Turkey views the SDF as terrorists and potential allies of Kurdish separatists in Turkey. The SDF says Turkey is trying to ethnically cleanse areas of Kurds and change its demographics.

She continued: "If we didn't fight against Daesh, this terrorist organisation, then the whole international community would be in danger. There are still some sleeper cells of Daesh in Syria and they are ready to wake up again. The SDF fight war against Daesh is still going on."

François Alfonsi, a French MEP from the Greens/European Free Alliance told reporters: "This is an act of great seriousness and Europe must respond to it, so the those who are responsible become the military and political losers."