Video footage has emerged apparently showing an abandoned US military base in northern Syria that has been taken over by Russian troops, following Donald Trump’s order to withdraw.

The US president’s move has been widely criticised for effectively signalling to Turkey, a Nato member, that it could launch an offensive against Kurds in the region, whom American forces had previously been helping in the battle against Isis.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced in the past few days, and dozens of civilians killed, amid accusations the invading force has committed war crimes.

Footage circulating on social media on Tuesday appeared to depict a US base in the key town of Manbij that had been abandoned by departing soldiers. Tents and a radio mast can be seen in the video, plus an American football, cereal crates, fridges stocked with Coca Cola and a copy of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo in English.

The Washington Post reported that the footage was posted to social media by Russian journalist Oleg Blokhin.

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

“We are at the US base in Manbij. Only yesterday morning they were still here and today we are here. Let’s have a look at how they lived here, what they did and what it is all about,” he reportedly said.

RT, the Kremlin-funded television network, also posted footage that showed similar scenes. Moscow, an ally of Syria’s government, sent its military into the disputed region to keep Turkish and Syrian military forces separated.

Colonel Myles Caggin, the spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, said on Twitter that “coalition forces are executing a deliberate withdrawal from northeast Syria. We are out of Manbij”.

It came as recriminations swirled around Mr Trump’s order to withdraw. Under pressure both domestically and internationally, the president slapped sanctions on top Turkish officials and is dispatching vice president Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, to Ankara.

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, rejected his American counterpart’s call for a ceasefire in his bid to create a buffer zone against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Turkey sees the group as a terrorist organisation due to its links with the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party.

Mr Erdogan has accepted an invitation to visit Moscow for talks, which could take place before the end of the month, according to Russian media reports.

On Tuesday the UK joined Italy, Germany and France in halting new arms exports to Turkey in response to the invasion.

France announced on Wednesday that nine French women suspected of belonging to Isis had escaped from a Kurdish-controlled camp in Syria.