2018 Rojava border clashes

Last updated

2018 northern Syria border clashes
Part of the Rojava conflict, Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War, and the Kurdish–Turkish conflict (2015–present)
Combined Joint U.S., Turkey Patrols.jpg
Joint patrols by the United States Armed Forces and the Turkish Land Forces, conducted in November 2018 to prevent further clashes in northern Syria.
Date31 October – 6 November 2018
(6 days)
Location
Northern Syria
Status

Indecisive

Belligerents
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey

Flag of Rojava.svg Democratic Federation of Northern Syria

Commanders and leaders
Flag of Turkey.svg Hulusi Akar (Minister of Defense) Unknown
Units involved

Flag of Rojava.svg Rojava

Casualties and losses
1 troop transport [3] 5 killed [4]
1 civilian killed [4]

The 2018 Northern Syria Border Clashes began on 31 October 2018 when the Turkish Armed Forces began to shell People's Protection Units (YPG) positions near the cities of Kobani and Tell Abyad as well as surrounding villages. Turkey views YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been waging an insurgency in Turkey for over 40 years.

Turkish Armed Forces Combined military forces of Turkey

The Turkish Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of Turkey. They consist of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. The Gendarmerie and the Coast Guard, both of which have law enforcement and military functions, operate as components of the internal security forces in peacetime, and are subordinate to the Ministry of Interior. In wartime, they are subordinate to the Army and Navy. The President of Turkey is the military's overall head.

Peoples Protection Units Mainly-Kurdish militia in Syria

The People's Protection Units or People's Defense Units is a mainly-Kurdish group in Syria and the primary component of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The YPG mostly consists of ethnic Kurds, but also includes Arabs and foreign volunteers; it is closely allied to the Syriac Military Council, a militia of Assyrians. The YPG was formed in 2004 as the armed wing of the Kurdish leftist Democratic Union Party. It expanded rapidly in the Syrian Civil War and came to predominate over other armed Kurdish groups. A sister group, the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), fights alongside them. The YPG is active in Northern and Eastern Syria.

Tell Abyad Town and nahiyah in Raqqa, Syria

Tell Abyad is a town and nahiya in Syria. It is the administrative center of the Tell Abyad District within the Raqqa Governorate. Located along the Balikh River, it constitutes a divided city with the bordering city of Akçakale in Turkey.

Contents

Background

Journalist Ahmet S. Yayla stated that the operation by Turkey may be done to relocate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and al-Qaeda elements from Idlib in light of the demilitarization agreement between Russia and Turkey. Salih Muslim, the former co-chairman of the Democratic Union Party, has also stated that Russia and Turkey were plotting to send Jihadists to fight against Kurdish forces in Syria through the agreement. [5] On 30 October 2018, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said to a public gathering prior to the operation, "The plan is to remove the YPG, collect their heavy weaponry and finally allow the real Manbij people to be in full control of their city." [6]

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Salafi jihadist militant faction during the Syrian Civil War

Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, commonly referred to as Tahrir al-Sham, is an active Salafist jihadist militant group involved in the Syrian Civil War. The group was formed on 28 January 2017 as a merger between Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the Ansar al-Din Front, Jaysh al-Sunna, Liwa al-Haqq, and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement. After the announcement, additional groups and individuals joined. The merged group is currently led by Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and former Ahrar al-Sham leaders, although the High Command consists of leaders from other groups. Many groups and individuals defected from Ahrar al-Sham, representing their more conservative and Salafist elements. Currently, a number of analysts and media outlets still continue to refer to this group by its previous names, al-Nusra Front, or Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. The Ansar al-Din Front and Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement have since split off from Tahrir al-Sham. It had an estimated 20,000 members in 2019.

Al-Qaeda Salafi jihadist organization

Al-Qaeda is a militant Sunni Islamist multi-national organization founded in 1988 by Osama bin Laden, Abdullah Azzam, and several other Arab volunteers during the Soviet–Afghan War.

Idlib Place in Idlib Governorate, Syria

Idlib is a city in northwestern Syria, that operates as the capital of the Idlib Governorate and stands 59 kilometers (37 mi) southwest of Aleppo. It has an elevation of nearly 500 meters (1,600 ft) above sea level. Since the onset of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, the city was taken over by rebel militias and by 2017 became the seat of the Syrian Salvation Government, de-facto controlling the Idlib Governorate together with Tahrir al-Sham.

Clashes

Locations of clashes marked within hatched circles 2018 Syrian-Turkish border clashes.svg
Locations of clashes marked within hatched circles

The Turkish military reported that four Kurdish militiamen were killed and another six were injured in the shelling of YPG positions. [7] The Syrian Democratic Forces states that the attack had temporarily halted operations against ISIL near the Iraqi border. The Syrian Democratic Forces also stated that Turkish strikes were not limited to Kobani, but surrounding areas along the Syrian-Turkish border held by Rojava. On 30 October 2018, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed to clear the Eastern Euphrates region of Kurdish militias, while on 29 October Turkish forces had targeted YPG positions along the Euphrates river. [8] In response to the attack, the SDF redeployed multiple units from the Deir Ez Zor region to confront the Turkish forces. [9] In retaliation, the YPG stated that it destroyed a Turkish vehicle and released a video of the attack; [10] however, the statement has not been acknowledged by the Turkish government. [11] A Turkish military vehicle fired at the border station in the town of Tell Abyad, leaving one dead from the SDF's Self-Defense Forces. [12]

Syrian Democratic Forces alliance of militias fighting against ISIL and other extremists in the Syrian Civil War

The Syrian Democratic Forces, commonly abbreviated to SDF, HSD, and QSD, is an alliance in the Syrian Civil War composed primarily of Kurdish, Arab, and Assyrian/Syriac militias, as well as some smaller Armenian, Turkmen and Chechen forces. The SDF is militarily led by the People's Protection Units (YPG), a mostly Kurdish militia. Founded in October 2015, the SDF states its mission as fighting to create a secular, democratic and decentralized Syria. The updated December 2016 constitution of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES) names the SDF as its official defence force.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan 12th President of Turkey

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a Turkish politician serving as President of Turkey since 2014. He previously served as Prime Minister of Turkey from 2003 to 2014 and as Mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998. He founded the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2001, leading it to election victories in 2002, 2007 and 2011 before standing down upon his election as President in 2014. He later returned to the AKP leadership in 2017. Coming from an Islamist political background and as a self-described conservative democrat, he has promoted socially conservative and liberal economic policies in his administration.

With the US holding positive relations with both Turkey and the Syrian Democratic Forces, an American military delegation reportedly arrived in Tell Abyad to attempt to mediate between the two parties to attempt to resolve the conflict. [13]

On 1 November 2018, the Turkish military targeted Kobani with helicopters as well as howitzers in preparation for an offensive [14] and has coordinated plans for an offensive with allied opposition groups based in Afrin. [15]

Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army

The Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army, officially known as the Syrian National Army or simply the National Army, is an armed Syrian opposition structure mainly composed of Syrian Arab, Syrian Kurds and Syrian Turkmen rebels operating in northwestern Syria. Though concentrated in Turkish-occupied areas, originally as a part of Operation Euphrates Shield, the TFSA also established a presence in the Idlib Governorate during the 2019 northwestern Syria offensive, and consolidated its presence when the National Front for Liberation joined the SNA on 4 October 2019.

Afrin Region One of seven de facto regions of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria in Aleppo

Afrin Region is the westernmost of the three original regions of the de facto autonomous Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, most commonly known as Rojava.

Clashes continued with sporadic shelling and on 6 November Turkey targeted the town of Ras al-Ayn, a YPG supply point. [16]

Ras al-Ayn City in al-Hasakah, Syria

Ras al-Ayn, also spelled Ras al-Ain, is a city in al-Hasakah Governorate in northeastern Syria, on the border with Turkey.

Aftermath

On 21 November, United States Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis announced the U.S. will set up new observation posts along the Turkish border in northern Syria in order to reduce similar incidences between Turkish forces and Kurdish militants in the region. The endeavor is seen as a way of easing tensions between the two NATO allies and doesn't require additional U.S. troops to be deployed to Syria. [17] The move is controversial due to U.S. lawmakers voicing concerns over mission creep in Syria in recent weeks and months. [18] A total of three observation posts were to be set up in Tal Abyad and two in Kobani. The first Tal Abyad post was completed on 27 November. [19] Three total observation posts were established by 12 December. "The positions were clearly marked and any force attacking them would definitely know they are attacking the United States", said a US official. [20]

On 12 December 2018, the Turkish government announced it would begin operations against Rojava "in a few days" in an apparent rebuke of US efforts at ensuring Turkish border security in the area. [21] In response, the Pentagon said that any unilateral military action taken in northern Syria, where US forces are operating, would be "unacceptable." [22] However, several days later the US announced the withdrawal of their troops from Syria, after which Turkey postponed the planned attack. [23]

On 25 December, the SDF handed over the town of Arima west of Manbij to troops of the Syrian government. [24]

Through 27-28 December, the Manbij Military Council had invited Syrian troops to enter Manbij in order to ward off a future Turkish advance. Syrian forces gradually deployed to the surrounding countryside as American troops continued to patrol inside the city and along the contact lines with the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army, whose units continued to deploy and mobilize along the Manbij frontier. [25]

Following criticism of the planned withdrawal of their troops, on 6 January the US imposed the security of their Kurdish-led allies as a condition for the withdrawal. [26]

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References

  1. ↑ Leith Aboufadel (31 October 2018). "Turkish military attacks Kurdish forces in northern Raqqa amid reports of new offensive east of Euphrates". Al-Masdar News.
  2. ↑ https://en.muraselon.com/2018/11/eastern-euphrates-kurdish-militia-us/
  3. ↑ http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/311020182
  4. 1 2 http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=106218
  5. ↑ Yayla, Ahmet (8 October 2018). "Turkey's Erdogan Has Grand Plans for al Qaeda's Syrian Spin-Off". The Daily Beast.
  6. ↑ Kajjo, Sirwan (31 October 2018). "Kurds in Syria: We Have Right to Respond to Turkish Attacks". Voice of America.
  7. ↑ "Turkish military again shells Kurdish positions in Syria". Associated Press. 31 October 2018. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  8. ↑ "Turkish Forces Shell Northern Syria, Kurdish-Led Force Responds". Reuters. 31 October 2018.
  9. ↑ Leith Aboufadel (31 October 2018). "Eastern Euphrates under Daesh threat again as SDF troops forced to confront Turkish military in northern Syria". Al-Masdar News.
  10. ↑ https://twitter.com/defenseunits/status/1057598043598606336?s=21
  11. ↑ Leith Aboufadel (31 October 2018). "Breaking: US-backed forces claim Turkish military vehicle destroyed in retaliatory attack". Al-Masdar News.
  12. ↑ "الاحتلال التركي يستهدف كري سبي هذه المرة واستشهاد مقاتل - ANHA - وكالة أنباء هاوار". Hawar News Agency.
  13. ↑ Mohammad Abdulssattar Ibrahim; Alice Al Maleh (31 October 2018). "Fighting between Turkish army, Kurdish-led forces in northeast Syria continues despite American efforts to de-escalate". Syria Direct.
  14. ↑ Leith Aboufadel (1 November 2018). "Turkish military ups the ante in northern Syria with new attack on YPG stronghold". Al-Masdar News.
  15. ↑ Leith Aboufadel (2 November 2018). "Turkish intelligence informs rebels to get ready for battle east of Euphrates: monitor". Al-Masdar News.
  16. ↑ Leith Aboufadel (6 November 2018). "Turkish Army attacks YPG forces in northwest Al-Hasakah". Al-Masdar News.
  17. ↑ "US to establish observation posts on Syria-Turkey border: Mattis". Rudaw Media Network . 21 November 2018.
  18. ↑ "The US military is putting brand new observation posts in northern Syria". 21 November 2018.
  19. ↑ "Kurdistan 24 captures completion of first US observation post on Syria-Turkey border". Kurdistan 24 . 27 November 2018.
  20. ↑ Turkey to launch operation against U.S.-backed Kurds in Syria 'in a few days'
  21. ↑ https://m.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Turkey-will-start-operation-east-of-Euphrates-in-Syria-in-a-few-days-574135
  22. ↑ "Unilateral military action into northeast Syria 'unacceptable': Pentagon". Reuters. 12 December 2018.
  23. ↑ "Turkey to clear Syria of both YPG, ISIL: Erdoğan". Hürriyet Daily News. 21 December 2018.
  24. ↑ "Breaking: Kurdish forces handover town near Manbij to Syrian Army". Al-Masdar News. 25 December 2018.
  25. ↑ US-led coalition says no Syrian troops in Manbij
  26. ↑ "Trump Adviser: US to Leave Syria Once IS Beaten, Kurds Safe". New York Times . 6 January 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
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