2018 Syrian–Turkish 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

ceasfire

Belligerents
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey

De facto SA-NES Flag.svg Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria

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

De facto SA-NES Flag.svg Rojava

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

The 2018 Syrian-Turkish 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 the YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been waging an insurgency in Turkey for over 40 years.

Contents

Background

Journalist Ahmet S. Yayla stated that the operation by Turkey may have been carried out 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, stated that Russia and Turkey were plotting to send jihadists to fight against the YPG as part of 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]

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 Syria–Turkey 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]

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 coordinated plans for an offensive with allied opposition groups based in Afrin. [15]

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

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[ spelling? ] 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 Syrian National 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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Defense Units</span> Mainly-Kurdish militia in Syria

The People's Defense Units (YPG), also called People's Protection Units, is a Kurdish militant group in Syria and the primary component of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). YPG provides updates about its activities through YPG Press Office Telegram channel and social media accounts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war</span> Involvement of Turkey in the Syrian civil war

Turkey's involvement in the Syrian Civil War began diplomatically and later escalated militarily. Initially, Turkey condemned the Syrian government at the outbreak of civil unrest in Syria during the spring of 2011; the Turkish government's involvement gradually evolved into military assistance for the Free Syrian Army in July 2011, border clashes in 2012, and direct military interventions in 2016–17, in 2018, in 2019, 2020, and in 2022. The military operations have resulted in the Turkish occupation of northern Syria since August 2016.

Relations between the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) are unclear and varied among the different FSA factions. Both are opposed to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. However, several clashes between the two have taken place. Under pressure from the United States, some FSA groups coordinate with the YPG to battle ISIL under the name of the Syrian Democratic Forces, although some other FSA groups remained in conflict with the YPG and the SDF, including FSA groups in the SDF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AANES–Syria relations</span> Bilateral relations

AANES–Syria relations concern the military and political relations between the Ba'athist Syrian Arab Republic and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), a de facto autonomous multi-ethnic region in northern and eastern Syria. The Syrian government does not officially recognise the autonomy of the AANES, and advocates a centralist approach to the governance of Syria. The NES seeks the federalisation of Syria. For most of the Syrian civil war, there has been a non-aggression pact between the military of Syria and the Syrian Democratic Forces, with occasional confrontations and some cooperation against Islamist groups, in particular against the Turkish Armed Forces and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army. While the two sides co-operated militarily under Russian supervision since 2019, with Syrian and Russian troops stationed along the Turkish border to prevent further advances, political negotiations have ended in failure. The Syrian government has no authority or institutions in North and East Syria outside of its two security boxes in Qamishli/Qamislo and Al-Hasakah/Heseke. The Autonomous Administration does not allow the Syrian Government to hold elections in areas under its control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syrian Democratic Forces</span> Alliance in the Syrian Civil War

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is a Kurdish-led coalition formed by ethnic militias and rebel groups, and serves as the official military wing of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). The SDF is allied to and supplied by the United States–led CJTF–OIR international alliance. Founded in 10 October 2015, the SDF claims that its mission is fighting to create a secular, democratic and federalised Syria. The SDF is opposed by Turkey, who claims the group has direct links to the PKK, which it recognizes as a terrorist group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manbij offensive</span> 2016 military operation by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo Governorate, Syria

The Manbij offensive, code-named Operation Martyr and Commander Faysal Abu Layla by the SDF, was a 2016 military offensive operation by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to capture the city of Manbij from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and eventually, the ISIL-held areas through Al-Bab to Herbel, in the area referred to as the "Manbij Pocket" in the northern Aleppo Governorate. The main goal of the offensive was to cut off ISIL's last supply routes from Turkey, and to prevent ISIL fighters from escaping across the Syria-Turkey border. For the first five days of the offensive, the US-led coalition conducted over 55 airstrikes in support of the SDF. After capturing Manbij city on 12 August, the SDF announced that the offensive would continue until the whole countryside around Manbij was captured, though the offensive effectively ended shortly after the Turkish Armed Forces initiated Operation Euphrates Shield to prevent the SDF uniting the regions of Rojava.

The Northern Raqqa offensive was a 2016 military offensive launched by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in northern Raqqa Governorate, in order to prepare for a future attack on the city of Raqqa. The offensive was launched in coordination with airstrikes by the US-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. After 30 May, the offensive stalled, as the SDF shifted its focus and resources to another operation in the northern Aleppo Province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manbij Military Council</span>

The Manbij Military Council (MMC) is a coalition established by several groups in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), primarily the Northern Sun Battalion, on 2 April 2016 at the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates. The MMC led the SDF's Manbij offensive from June 2016 that led to the capture of the city of Manbij from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant two months later. Most fighters in the MMC are from Manbij and the surrounding areas.

Arima, also spelled Orayma or Arimah, is a town and seat of a subdistrict (nahiya) in Al-Bab District, located 20 kilometers (12 mi) northeast of the city of al-Bab and 65 kilometers (40 mi) northeast of Aleppo in northern Syria. In the 2004 census, it had a population of 2,839. The town of Qabasin is also to the south-west, and closer than Al-Bab. Manbij city is to the north-east. In course of the Syrian Civil War, the town repeatedly changed hands. As of 2020, it was under dual control of the Syrian government and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Euphrates Shield</span> Turkish cross-border military operation

Operation Euphrates Shield was a cross-border military operation conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces in the Syrian Civil War which led to the Turkish occupation of northern Syria. Operations were carried out in the region between the Euphrates river to the east and the rebel-held area around Azaz to the west. The Turkish military and Turkey-aligned Syrian rebel groups, some of which used the Free Syrian Army label, fought against the forces of the Islamic State (IS) as well as against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from 24 August 2016. On 29 March 2017, the Turkish military officially announced that Operation Euphrates Shield was "successfully completed".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syrian Democratic Forces military councils</span> Military councils for local security and defense

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has many military councils for local security and defense, each being accountable to the civil council of the area they operate in.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western al-Bab offensive (October–November 2016)</span> Military confrontation in Syria

The western al-Bab offensive was a multi-sided military confrontation between the Syrian Army, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), other (Turkey-backed) FSA factions, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the countryside of northwestern Aleppo Governorate, south of the towns of Mare' and Tel Rifaat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Aleppo offensive (2017)</span> Syrian military operation in January–April 2017

The East Aleppo offensive (2017), also referred to as the Dayr Hafir offensive, was an operation launched by the Syrian Army to prevent Turkish-backed rebel forces from advancing deeper into Syria, and also to ultimately capture the ISIL stronghold of Dayr Hafir. Another aim of the operation was to gain control of the water source for Aleppo city, at the Khafsa Water Treatment Plant, in addition to capturing the Jirah Military Airbase. At the same time, the Turkish-backed rebel groups turned towards the east and started launching attacks against the Syrian Democratic Forces, west of Manbij.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deir ez-Zor campaign (2017–2019)</span> Military operation by Syrian Democratic Forces during the Syrian Civil War

The Deir ez-Zor campaign, codenamed the al-Jazeera Storm campaign, was a military operation launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria's Deir ez-Zor Governorate in 2017 during the Syrian Civil War with the goal of capturing territory in eastern Syria, particularly east and north of the Euphrates river. The U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF–OIR) anti-ISIL coalition provided extensive air support while SDF personnel composed the majority of the ground forces; OIR special forces and artillery units were also involved in the campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syrian Border Security Force</span> Military unit

The Syrian Border Security Force (BSF) is a reported U.S.-trained border security force which is to deploy along Syria's borders with Turkey, Iraq and the Euphrates, with the strategic aim of containing remnants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The US state department recently denied the implementation of any border security force by the US government referring to the new development simply as security training.

The following is a timeline of the Syrian Civil War from September to December 2018. Information about aggregated casualty counts is found at Casualties of the Syrian Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Syria insurgency</span> Armed insurgency

The Eastern Syria insurgency is an armed insurgency being waged by remnants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and both pro and anti-Syrian government Arab nationalist insurgents, against the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), its military, and their allies in the US-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF–OIR) coalition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Syria Buffer Zone</span> Demilitarized zone in Syria

The Northern Syria Buffer Zone was a temporary Syrian Civil War demilitarized zone (DMZ) established on the Syrian side of the Syria–Turkey border in August 2019 to maintain security along the border and to dissuade a prospective Turkish invasion of the self-proclaimed Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. The DMZ was administered by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and their military councils and enforced by United States Armed Forces and Turkish Armed Forces personnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria</span> Turkish military offensive in northern Syria

The 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria, code-named Operation Peace Spring by Turkey, was a cross-border military operation conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the Syrian National Army (SNA) against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and later Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in northern Syria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone</span> Military buffer zone between Turkey and Syria (2019–)

The Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone, part of the Sochi Agreement, is a buffer zone in northern Syria between the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). It was set up following a memorandum of understanding in the Russian city Sochi on 22 October 2019 by the Russian and Turkish presidents during the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria. Most of the zone is controlled by the Syrian Army and Russian Military Police, and some by the TAF.

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. Archived from the original on 1 November 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  2. ↑ "Kurdish Militia Furious at US Indifference to Ankara's Threats in Eastern Euphrates". Muraselon News. 4 November 2018. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  3. ↑ "YPG retaliates in Kobane, destroys Turkish military vehicle". Rudaw . Erbil. 31 October 2018.
  4. 1 2 "After killing 6 citizens and fighters in previous targeting operations…the Turkish forces open the fire of their machineguns targeting the west of Tal Abyad and the east of Ayn Al-Arab (Kobani)". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights . 7 November 2018.
  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. Archived from the original on 15 March 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  10. ↑ @defenseunits (31 October 2018). (Tweet) https://x.com/defenseunits/status/1057598043598606336 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[ dead link ][ dead link ]
  11. ↑ Leith Aboufadel (31 October 2018). "Breaking: US-backed forces claim Turkish military vehicle destroyed in retaliatory attack". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  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. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  15. ↑ Leith Aboufadel (2 November 2018). "Turkish intelligence informs rebels to get ready for battle east of Euphrates: monitor". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  16. ↑ Leith Aboufadel (6 November 2018). "Turkish Army attacks YPG forces in northwest Al-Hasakah". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  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. ↑ Erkoyun, Ezgi (12 December 2018). "Turkey to launch operation against U.S.-backed Kurds in Syria 'in a few days'". Reuters– via www.reuters.com.
  21. ↑ "Turkey will start operation east of Euphrates in Syria in a 'few days'". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 12 December 2018.
  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. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  25. ↑ "The Latest: Turkey-backed Syrians brace for key town clash". wsfa.com. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  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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