Operation Euphrates Shield

Coordinates: 36°49′08″N 38°00′40″E / 36.819°N 38.011°E / 36.819; 38.011
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 2A1ZA (talk | contribs) at 13:38, 12 October 2016 (fixing error). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Turkish military intervention in Syria
Part of the Syrian Civil War, the military intervention against ISIL, the Turkey–ISIL conflict, the Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War and the Rojava conflict

Map of situation in Aleppo Governorate as of 11 October.
Date24 August 2016 – present
(7 years, 9 months and 4 days)
Location
Syria-Turkey border, northern Aleppo Governorate
ActionWith Turkish lead, Turkey-backed Syrian rebels to secure control of Turkey-Syria border and west of the Euphrates River
Status

Ongoing

  • ISIL-held territory along the Turkish-Syrian border completely captured by the Turkish-backed rebels[7]
  • Turkish-backed rebels capture a number of villages from from the SDF in the Jarabulus area[8]
  • Clashes erupt between Turkish-backed FSA and SDF, YPG withdraws to east of Euphrates[9] though Turkey disputes this[10]
  • As of 5 October, 4,005 refugees returned to areas controlled by rebel forces from Turkey and population of Jarabulus increased by more than 20,000.[11][12][13]
  • As of 8 October, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels captured a total of 1,000 square kilometres (390 sq mi)[14]
Belligerents

 Turkey
 Syrian opposition[1]

Support:

 United States[2]
(only against ISIL, but not against SDF)[3]		  Islamic State

Syrian Democratic Forces[4]
International Freedom Battalion[5]

Support:

 United States[6]
(only against ISIL, but not against Turkey)
Commanders and leaders
Turkey Lt. Gen. Zekai Aksakallı[15]
(Operations chief commander)
Turkey Lt. Gen. İsmail Metin Temel[16][17]
(Second Army commander)
Syrian opposition Col. Ahmed Othman[18]
(Sultan Murad Division commander)
Syrian opposition Fehim İsa[19]
(Sultan Murad Division commander)
Syrian opposition Ali Şeyh Salih[20] (DOW)[21]
(Sultan Murad Division field commander)
Syrian opposition Muhammad al-Gabi[22]
(Liberation Army commander)
Syrian opposition Mohammad Abu Ibrahim[23]
Syrian opposition Mustafa Sejari[23]
(Al-Moutasem Brigade political leader)
Syrian opposition Abu Mohammed Kafr Zita[6] (Liberation Brigade commander)
Syrian opposition Abdel Karim Alyato[24] †
(13th Division commander)
Mahmoud Abu Hamza[25] (Descendants of Saladin Brigade commander)
Capt. Abdel Salam Abdel Razaq[25] (Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement commander)
Capt. Mohammed Abu Mustafa[22]
(Sham Legion commander)
Abu Jafer[26] (Brigade of Conquest commander)		 Unknown Syrian opposition Muhammad Ahmed[27]
(Jarabulus Military Council commander)
Units involved

Turkey Turkish Armed Forces

Syrian opposition Mare' Operations Room

Syrian opposition Akhtarin Military Council (from 3 September 2016)[37] Syrian opposition Free Idlib Army[38]

Ahrar al-Sharqiya[41]
(until 16 September)
Syrian opposition Liberation Army[42]
Syrian opposition Liberation Brigade (Leader and 50 defectors, rest still in the SDF)[6]
Syrian opposition First Division of Aleppo[43]
Brigade of Conquest[44]
Syrian opposition Syria Revolutionaries Front remnants[45]
Suleyman-Shah Brigade (Turkmen police in Jarabulus city)[46][47]

Other Syrian rebels:
Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement[48]
Ahrar al-Sham[48]
Army of Sunna

Support:
 United States United States Armed Forces

Military of ISIL

Manbij Military Council

Jarabulus Military Council[27]

YPG
YPJ
Bob Crow Brigade[5]

Support:
 United States United States Armed Forces

Strength

Turkey-backed rebels: "Hundreds" to 5,000[28][52]
Turkey 450 troops[53][54]

United States 40 SOFs[56][57]
50 soldiers for HIMARS systems in Turkey.[58]		 Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses

Turkey-backed rebels: 121 killed, 2 captured
[59][60]

Turkish Armed Forces: 11 killed, 31 wounded, 6–9 tanks destroyed or damaged[61][62][63]		 184+ killed (Turkish claim)[64]
370+ surrendered[26] (FSA claim)		 16 killed, 15 wounded, 6 captured (SOHR and SDF claims)[65][66][67][68]
25 killed, 7 captured (Turkish claim)[65][69]
11 killed (ISIL claim)[70]
40 civilians killed, 75 wounded (SOHR claim)[65]

The Turkish military intervention in Syria, code-named by Turkey as Operation Euphrates Shield (Turkish: Fırat Kalkanı Harekâtı), is an ongoing cross-border operation by the Turkish military and allied groups in the Syrian Civil War. Operations are ongoing 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-backed Syrian rebel groups, some of which use the Free Syrian Army label, have been fighting against forces of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as well as against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) since 24 August 2016.

Background

Main article: Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War
See also: Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War and Safe Zone (Syria)

Northern Aleppo Governorate is a region considered of major strategic importance in the Syrian civil war, previously mostly held by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). For ISIL it is the only remaining gate to an international border. For the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Shahba region between the Euphrates river to the east and the Kurd Mountains to the west is the missing link to connect the cantons of the Federation of Northern Syria - Rojava. For Turkey it is the path to its influence in Syria, while also viewing both ISIL and the People's Protection Units (YPG), a major component of the SDF, as ″terror groups that threaten our country in northern Syria″.[71][72] The stage for the Jarabulus offensive was set by the previous Manbij offensive from June to August which saw the SDF capturing the city of Manbij and its surroundings from ISIL and in the aftermath moving north. At the same time, Turkey-backed Syrian rebels fought the Battle of al-Rai to approach Jarabulus from the west.

According to an article published in The Independent, the Turkish objectives are to target ISIS, strike at the political and military power of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and to consolidate it's position in expectation of shifts towards more war or greater peace.[73] Turkey′s defence minister Fikri Işık said that "preventing the Kurdish PYD party from uniting Kurdish cantons" east of Jarabulus with those further west was a priority.[74] In Ankara Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said "at 4am this morning, operations started in the north of Syria against terror groups which constantly threaten our country".[75] With the goals of the operation to secure Turkey's border by removing ISIL and halting the Kurdish YPG westward advance.[76][77]

Before the operation, SDF forces including YPG units were advancing on Jarabulus following their military victory over IS in Manbij.[78] Both Manbij and Jarabulus are west of the Euphrates river, but Turkey wanted YPG forces to move back to the east of the river after the conclusion of the SDF's Manbij operation.[79]

Turkey′s action pitched its military against a force backed by the U.S.[79][80] Also, it was the first time Turkish warplanes struck in Syria since November 2015, when Turkey downed a Russian warplane, and the first significant incursion by Turkish special forces since a brief operation to relocate the tomb of Suleyman Shah, in February 2015.[79]

It is alleged that Turkey had an agreement with Islamic State to rescue IS in Jarabulus from the "PYD offensive".[81][82] According to Hürriyet Daily News, the allegation is believed by many in Washington and Turkey and this could pose serious problems for Ankara .[83]

Preparations

Turkmen majority areas in north Aleppo countryside. Syrian Turkmen are a claimed national and security interest of Turkey.[84]

Reportedly,[85] Turkey had prepared battle plans for such operation more than a year prior, but it was delayed due to doubts from U.S. officials about the capabilities of Syrian rebel forces that Turkey had recruited to fight with its military and the rift between Turkey and Russia that had only been mended in early August 2016.[86]

On 20 August 2016, a large number of rebels and a military convoy containing more than 50 vehicles loaded with heavy and medium weapons from al-Rai were transferred to the Turkish border with Jarabulus.[87]

On 22 August, as a response to the Gaziantep bombing and two mortar shells launched by ISIL hitting the town of Karkamış adjacent to Jarabulus, the Turkish Land Forces launched 60 artillery shells at IS positions in Jarabulus while simultaneously bombarding Manbij Military Council positions farther south in order to prevent them from advancing further to the north.[88] Karkamış was soon evacuated and cleared of its residents. Turkey continued to shell ISIL positions in Jarabulus after two mortar rounds hit Karkamış and three hit Kilis.[89]

On 23 August, Turkey shelled ISIL-held territory in northern Syria again. ISIL responded by firing rockets into Turkey.[90]

The Turkey-backed rebels under the brand of the FSA that took part in the offensive comprised mainly Syrian Turkmen, specifically the branches of Syrian Turkmen Brigades.[91][92] During the offensive, as a sign of classification, FSA troops of Turkmen origin use light blue armbands, a color which is often used as a symbol of Turkic heritage; meanwhile, the Arab origin soldiers mainly use red ones.[91][93][94]

The SDF have accused the Turkish military intelligence of assassinating Abdel Sattar al-Jader, the leader of the Jarabulus Military Council, a component of the SDF, just prior to the operations.[78] Turkey rejected the allegations, and Turkish media reported that al-Jader was killed by a local tribe member following a dispute.[95]

The offensives

See also: Turkish Armed Forces casualties in Syria

Capture of Jarabulus by Turkish-backed forces (24 August)

Early in the morning of 24 August, Turkish forces directed intense artillery fire against ISIL positions in Jarabulus while the Turkish Air Force bombed 11 targets from the air.[96] Later that day, Turkish main battle tanks followed by pick-up trucks, believed to be carrying Turkish-backed Syrian rebels,[97] and the Turkish Special Forces crossed the border and were joined by hundreds of Free Syrian Army fighters as the ground forces attacked the town.[52] U.S.-led coalition planes helped the Turkish forces.[2][79] This was their first co-ordinated offensive into Syria.[79] The FSA said progress was slow because of mines planted by IS fighters in the area.[97]

A few hours after the offensive's beginning, Turkish Special Forces and the Sham Legion captured their first village, Tal Katlijah, after ISIL fighters retreated from it to reinforce Jarabulus.[35] Some time later, FSA captured four more villages[98] including Tel Shair, Alwaniyah and two other villages.[99][100] Hours later, Turkish and US-backed rebels were reported to have captured the border town of Jarabulus, with ISIL offering little resistance.[101][102] SOHR too confirmed that FSA had captured the city almost entirely.[103] A FSA spokesman stated that a large number of ISIL fighters had withdrawn to al-Bab in front of the offensive.[104]

The fact that no actual combat took place between Turkey or Turkish-backed Syrian rebels versus ISIL in Jarabulus[105] and the closeness in Islamist political ideology between ISIL and some if not all involved rebel groups has led to some local and international speculation about a collusion between Turkey and ISIL in the operation, including allegations of ISIL fighters changing uniform.[106] In an interview published in The Independent on 9 September, an ISIL fighter claimed that "when the Turkish army entered Jarabulus, I talked to my friends who were there. Actually, Isis didn’t leave Jarabulus; they just shaved off their beards."[107]

Continued advance of Turkish-backed forces against ISIL and conflict with SDF (24–25 August)

Later on 24 August, speaking in Ankara, US vice president Joe Biden appeared to support Turkey′s stance vis-a-vis the Syrian Kurds and said that "the elements that were part of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the YPG that participated, that they must go back across the river" (the Euphrates).[97][108] The YPG, however, initially refused to withdraw from Manbij,[109] while the pro-SDF Jarabulus Military Council groups declared that they would not give up their hometown to the Turkish-backed rebel groups which they considered "no different from ISIS". In consequence, when Turkish-backed FSA units, among them the Sham Legion and Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, forcibly attempted to enter the SDF-held village of Amarinah south of Jarabulus, they were met with resistance. Whereas the SDF claimed to have repelled the assault, the rebels announced to have captured the village. Before clashing with the SDF, the FSA had captured half a dozen villages.[110][111][112][113]

On early 25 August, more than 20 Turkish tanks crossed into the Syrian border.[114] The U.S. foreign minister later informed the his Turkish counterpart that the YPG had started withdrawing to the east of the Euphrates river.[115] A spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve later announced that the SDF had withdrawn across the Euphrates river in order to prepare for an offensive on Raqqa.[116] The YPG later separately announced it had withdrawn to the east of Euphrates and said all military command along with all YPG-held positions was handed over to the Manbij Military Council.[117] Despite this, Turkey claimed that some YPG units had not retreated, leading the Turkish military to shell them with artillery and, according to Hürriyet Daily News, launch a drone strike against one YPG group.[118][119] While the conflict between Turkey and SDF continued, members of the Jarabulus Military Council stated once again that they "will not allow some mercenaries to take over our city. We will liberate Jarabulus," with some claiming that the Turkish-backed rebels were former ISIL fighters.[27]

Meanwhile, the offensive against ISIL continued, as both the Turkish-backed forces as well as SDF units took control of additional villages south of Jarabulus from ISIL.[120] Pro-PYD sources claimed that clashes had broken out among FSA groups in Jarabulus.[121] Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Işık stated later in the day that FSA was clearing Jarabulus of any remaining ISIL militants.[122] After Jarabulus was largely secured, rebel commanders declared conflicting targets for the further offensive; whereas the Levant Front announced that the rebels would next attempt to take Al-Bab, the Al-Moutasem Brigade and the Sultan Murad Division stated that the Turkish-backed forces would proceed west to break the ISIL siege of Mare', while Turkish media reported that the offensive aimed at securing a strip of territory along the Turkish-Syrian border.[16][23] However, Ankara's forces pushed south and mostly focused on targeting Kurdish-led SDF forces.[123]

Disputed YPG withdrawal; Turkish-backed rebels drive SDF south of the Sajur River (26–29 August)

On 26 August, al-Masdar News claimed that all YPG forces had actually withdrawn to the east of the Euphrates as result of the continued Turkish pressure, leaving all territory around Manbij under control of their allies within the SDF,[9] though rebel forces later released photos of YPG ID cards and weapons allegedly taken in Amarna, suggesting that at least some YPG fighters remained around Manbij, if not all.[10] On the next day Turkish planes bombed the SDF-aligned Jarabulus Military Council positions in the village of Amarna, 10 km south of Jarabulus. According to the SDF civilian homes were also hit and the SDF avoided moving north to prevent escalation of the clashes.[124] Turkish-backed rebel forces then attacked and captured the SDF-held villages of Maz’alah and Yousif Bayk, while also attempting to advance against the stragetic significant hilltop of Amarna.[66][125] In response to the attacks, mostly Arab SDF groups such as the Northern Sun Battalion announced that they would send reinforcements to help the Jarabulus Military Council.[50] Also, later on the same day, one Turkish soldier was killed and three were wounded in an anti-tank missile attack on a Turkish tank south of Jarabulus. According to Turkish military sources the missile was fired from territory held by the SDF. The soldier's death is the first reported fatality on the Turkish side.[126][127] Turkish forces retaliated with artillery fire.[128]

Meanwhile, the Free Syrian Army cleaned Jarabulus of mines and explosives planted by ISIL militants before their withdrawal from the town.[129] The Turkish Red Crescent started distributing food after landmines and other explosives had been cleared from the border between Karkamis in Turkey and Jarabulus in Syria. The humanitarian movement handed out various food supplies for around 5,000 people in the town.[130] Taking advantage of the conflict between SDF and FSA, ISIL launched a massive counteroffensive and captured al-Rai according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).[131][132]

On 28 August, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Aleppo24,[133] at least 20 civilians were killed and 50 wounded in Turkish artillery fire and air strikes on the village of Jeb el-Kussa, and another 28 were killed and 25 wounded in Turkish air strikes near the town of Al-Amarneh and the village of Saressat. Also, at least four SDF fighters had been killed and 15 injured in Turkish bombardment of the two areas.[134][135][136] Syrian monitoring groups reported that at least 70 people were killed at the weekend (27–28 August), most of whom were civilians, in the Turkish operations. Turkish officials didn't comment on the reported civilian death toll, except to say that commanders were taking all necessary measures to protect noncombatants.[133] On the other side, Turkey claimed to have killed 25 PKK and YPG militants in course of the airstrikes.[128] Turkish-backed forces then began a major attack against the SDF positions, capturing Amarna and nearby Ain al-Bayda; rebel groups also claimed to have taken the villages of Qusa, Balaban, Dabisa, Jeb el-Kussa, Suraysat, Umm Routha, Maghayer and Qiratah further south, though this could not be independently confirmed.[137][138] The ANF News Agency published a video of two Turkish army tanks destroyed by SDF anti-tank missiles.[139] Meanwhile, Turkish-backed Sham Legion fighters released footage showing them torturing SDF prisoners.[140]

Some of the Syrian refugees, mainly Syrian Turkmen and Arabs who were living in the area which Turkish-led forces captured, returned to the Jarabulus area. Erdoğan stated that necessary help will be given to other refugees who stated their will to return to their homelands[141] and Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu accused "the PYD" of "ethnic cleansing" in areas which were not inhabited by Kurds at all.[142]

On 29 August, Ibrahim Ibrahim, head of the Rojava Media Cell, stated that local forces in Jarabulus and Manbij were being reinforced but denied reports that YPG was reinforcing Manbij.[143] United States' envoy to the anti-ISIL coalition called the clashes between SDF and Turkish-backed rebels a "source of deep-concern". The spokesman for Pentagon called for YPG to pull back to east of the river which he stated had largely occurred. He also warned that such clashes enabled ISIL to find sanctuary and continue planning attacks.[144] In course of the day, Turkish-backed forces first captured all remaining SDF positions north of the Sajur River, and then proceeded to cross it to conquer three more villages,[145] bringing the number of villages captured by the rebels to 21.[146]

Rebel–SDF ceasefire attempt; Rebel fighting against ISIL continued (30 August – 2 September)

On 30 August, John Thomas, a spokesman for the US Central Command stated that Turkey and SDF had agreed to stop fighting each other and had opened communications with the United States as well as with each other.[147] Jarabulus Military Council claimed that it had reached a temporary ceasefire agreement with Turkey after mediation by the US-led anti-ISIL coalition. It also claimed that the ceasefire had started around midnight of 29–30 August.[148] On the same day, Turkey′s foreign ministry said the U.S.' comments regarding the objectives of the Turkish military operation in Syria were "unacceptable" and that the country would continue its operations until it achieved the goal of eliminating ″terrorist threats in the region″.[149] Turkish military sources[150] and commander of a Syrian opposition group denied a ceasefire had taken effect. The commander stated however while there was a pause in the operation, it would resume shortly.[151] The U.S. welcomed the putative pause in fighting.[152] Later in the day, Turkish Armed Forces stated that a Turkish tank near Sajur river had been hit by a rocket. However, it was not clear who had carried out the attack. The Turkish military carried out a strike 45 minutes after the tank was hit and claimed it had destroyed a group of "terrorists" west of Jarabulus. It also claimed that it had carried out airstrikes against ISIL targets in Kulliyah in northern Syria.[147][153][154] SOHR confirmed that there was a pause in fighting between the two groups around Jarabulus and Sajor river.[155] General Joseph Votel meanwhile stated that Kurdish fighters had moved to east of Euphrates as per their commitment.[156]

Also on 30 August, SDF forces with coalition support started the Western al-Bab offensive against ISIL in the southwest of the region.

On 31 August, Turkey's officials rejected the announcement of ceasefire made by the U.S. shortly prior, saying Turkey would not accept any compromise or ceasefire between Turkey and what Turkey saw as terrorist elements.[157][158] Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that "operations will continue until all terrorist elements have been neutralised, until all threats to our borders, our lands and our citizens are completely over".[157] Meanwhile, ISIL launched a massive counterattack in the southwestern countryside of Jarabulus preceded by a suicide attack. The militants captured four villages (Kiliyeh, Arab Hasan Saghir, Al-Muhsinli, and Al-Bulduq) from both the SDF and Turkish-backed rebels. Two Turkish tanks were reportedly destroyed in the clashes.[159]

On 1 September 2016, explosive experts of the Turkish Armed Forces cleared mines from the area around Jarabulus using controlled explosions. The de-mining operation on the Syrian side of the border was visible from the Turkish border town of Karkamış. An AFP photographer nearby heard at least a dozen explosions.[160]

On 2 September the SDF-aligned Bob Crow Brigade, composed of (mostly British and Irish) international volunteers for Rojava, said it was leaving the Raqqa front and heading to Manbij to defend it against a possible assault by Turkish forces and Islamist rebel groups.[5][161] A day prior, the Turkish prime minister′s spokesman said the Turkish government would treat such volunteers as terrorists, and Yasin Aktay, a spokesman for Turkey′s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), speaking to Middle East Eye opined that when it comes to Europeans or Americans joining the YPG, they could only be considered "crusaders" or intelligence agents.[162][163][164] Macer Gifford, a prominent British volunteer with the YPG and leader of its medical unit was quoted as saying "only in the minds of right wing and nationalist politicians in Turkey could the volunteers ever be called terrorists"; he said that while he had no intention to fight against Turkey, he would do so if and when Turkey attacked the YPG.[165]

Later on 2 September 2016, a statement released by the Turkish military said that a total of 271 targets were hit 1195 times by the Turkish Armed Forces and the Free Syrian Army while anti-ISIL coalition jets struck two ISIL targets. Also, the Turkish-backed FSA captured the Syrian village of Qundarah from ISIL.[166] The Turkish military also said that the Turkish Air Force destroyed three buildings used by ISIL in Arab Ezza and Qundarah with airstrikes.[167]

Also on 2 September, the leader of small SDF component group Liberation Brigade, Abdul Karim Obeid, defected to the camp of Turkish-backed rebels with 20 to 50 of his men, citing opposition to alleged YPG domination of the SDF, while SDF sources suggested he was displeased with the civil administration of the Federation of Northern Syria - Rojava replacing warlordist political rule.[6]

Turkey enters the rebel's al-Rai front against ISIL (3 September – 19 September)

On 3 September, Turkey additionally deployed tanks to the Syrian town of al-Rai to help the Turkish-backed rebels to push east from the town towards villages captured by the rebels west of Jarabulus. The incursion was launched from Kilis province which had been frequently targeted with rocket attacks from ISIL.[168] The Sham Legion and the Hamza Division also announced they had captured four villages (Fursan, Lilawa, Kino and Najma) south of Arab Ezza. The United States stated that it had hit ISIL targets near the Turkey-Syria border via the newly deployed HIMARS system.[169][170] The Turkish armed forces meanwhile reported that the rebels had captured two villages and an airport near al-Rai.[171][172] An official of the Fastaqim Kama Umirt also stated that the rebels had captured eight villages to the east and south of the town.[173] SOHR confirmed that the Turkish-backed rebels had captured three villages near the Sajur river with advances in two other villages. It also confirmed that the rebels had captured a village near al-Rai.[174] The U.S. Embassy in Ankara said US forces hit ISIL targets overnight near Turkey's border with Syria using HIMARS located in Turkey.[175]

On 4 September, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım and Anadolu Agency declared that the Turkish-backed rebels had captured the last remaining ISIL held villages along the Turkish border, cutting off key supply lines used by the group to bring in foreign fighters, weapons and ammunition.[176][177] The SOHR confirmed that the ISIL no longer controlled territory along the Turkish-Syrian border after Turkish-backed rebels captured the last remaining villages under control of the group.[7]

On 5 September, nine more villages in northern Syria were cleared of ISIL by the Turkish-backed rebels as part of operation Euphrates Shield according to Turkish armed forces.[178] On 6 September, Turkish military reported that two Turkish soldiers were killed in a rocket attack on two tanks by ISIL during clashes near al-Waqf village, while five soldiers were also wounded. In addition, two Turkish-backed rebels were also killed while another two were injured.[179] One of the Turkish soldiers who was critically injured in the attack later succumbed to his injuries in a hospital.[180] The village along with the Sadvi village was reported to have been captured by the rebels on the same day.[181]

On 7 September, around 300 Syrians started to return to Jarabulus in Syria, after Turkish-backed rebels recaptured the region from ISIL, marking the first formal return of civilians since Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield.[182] Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Nurettin Canikli stated that Syrian Kurdish fighters still hadn't completely withdrawn to the east of Euphrates river.[183] Also according to ARA news report ISIL evacuated their headquarters in the city of al-Bab in Syria's Aleppo province.[184]

On 8 September, it was reported that ISIL would evacuate its headquarters in al-Bab, as SDF continued their advance towards the city from the west, and Turkish-backed rebels also announced readiness to fight ISIL in al-Bab and other areas.[185] The same day, Turkish fighter jets hit four ISIL targets in northern Syria as part of Euphrates Shield operation, published in a statement from the Turkish General Staff.[186] Also on the same day Turkey's foreign minister repeated the call for a no-fly zone over northern Syria to boost security and allow more refugees to return home while enabling more local troops to be trained in their fight against ISIL fighters.[187] However, the United States as in the years before rejected the idea of a "no-flight zone" in Syria.[188]

On 9 September, Turkish military stated that three Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes with ISIL near the region of Tel el-Hawa while one soldier was injured. The Turkish army also shelled 15 ISIL positions in the Kafr Ghan region after a rocket from the region landed near Kilis Province. The military also stated that it carried out an air operation in Tal Ali, Tel al-Hawa and south Wuquf regions which destroyed 4 buildings being used as headquarters by the militants. An ISIL fighter was also stated to have been killed in an air operation conducted by the anti-ISIL coalition.[189] On 10 September, the Turkish military stated that airstrikes conducted by it targeting 3 buildings in Tel el-Hawa resulted in the death of 20 ISIL fighters.[190] On 13 September, Turkish military stated that the US-led coalition conducted airstrikes targeting four mortar positions and 2 defensive positions of ISIL between al-Rai and Azaz. The attack resulted in the deaths of 6 militants.[191]

As of September 14, a total of 1,900 Syrian refugees returned to the area cleansed by Turkish-backed forces, mainly to Jarabulus and Çobanbey (Al Rai).[192]

On September 15, Turkish Armed Forces said that it had so far destroyed 26 mines and 671 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by ISIL in northern Syria as part of operation Euphrates Shield.[193]

On September 16, US interference in al-Rai town caused the withdrawal of the Ahrar al-Sharqya Brigade from joining Euphrates Shield operation, the withdrawal came in protest against the US forces’ interference in northern Aleppo.[194] Earlier, US troops on gun trucks, followed by a Turkish tank and trucks carrying US-allied FSA fighters, withdrew from al-Rai back into Turkey after some fighters of Ahrar al-Sharqya, a Free Syrian Army labeled rebel group, denounced them as "infidels" and "Crusaders".[195] Dozens of US forces continued to cooperate with Turkish soldiers in support of the operation.[196] Meanwhile, the Turkish military stated that 5 fighters of FSA were killed while 6 were injured in an IED attack in Tatimus region. It also stated that 5 fighters of ISIL were killed in airstrikes carried out by anti-ISIL coalition in Kunaytirah, Tatimus, Cakka and Baragidah regions.[197]

On 17 September the Mountain Hawks Brigade announced that it had withdrawn from the Jarabulus and al-Rai fronts and its fighters and equipment will be transferred to the fronts in Aleppo city, Hama, and Latakia.[40] Meanwhile, Turkish military stated that 67 ISIL targets were hit with howitzer missiles and rockets between al-Rai and Azaz on the same day. It also stated that 5 fighters of the group were killed during the day.[198]

ISIL launched a counter-attack targeting the Tal Hajjar hilltop near al-Rai on 19 September. Amaq claimed that the hilltop was captured by ISIL.[199]

Third phase of the operation: Dabiq offensive and the way for Al-Bab (20 September –)

Main articles: Northern al-Bab offensive (2016) and Dabiq offensive (2016)

On September 16, US special operations forces entered northern Aleppo as part of a new US mission known as "Operation Noble Lance." According to the Pentagon, they will provide training, advice and assistance to the Syrian rebels. Furthermore, the soldiers likely will also be used to call in US airstrikes in support of the rebels as they advance.[200] The US participation caused the withdrawal of the Ahrar al-Sharqya Brigade from joining the Euphrates Shield operation, their withdrawal came in protest against the US forces’ interference in northern Aleppo and support for the YPG.[194] Earlier, US troops on gun trucks, followed by a Turkish tank and trucks carrying US-allied FSA fighters, supposedly withdrew from al-Rai back into Turkey after some fighters of Ahrar al-Sharqya Brigade denounced them as "infidels" and "Crusaders".[195] However, dozens of US forces continued to cooperate with Turkish soldiers in support of the operation.[196]

On the same day, the Turkish military stated that 5 fighters of FSA were killed while 6 were injured in an IED attack in Tatimus region. It also stated that 5 fighters of ISIL were killed in airstrikes carried out by anti-ISIL coalition in Kunaytirah, Tatimus, Cakka and Baragidah regions.[197]

As of 19 September Turkish forces and Turkish-backed rebels, the primary ground force being the Turkmen group Sultan Murad Division, took control of five new villages in the biggest advance of the third phase, making the total number of villages taken in this phase 10.[201]

On the military front towards Al-Bab, after Turkish-backed rebels initially captured a few villages from ISIL,[202] and so did ISIL they other way round,[203] by 23 September ISIL had captured more than 20 villages from the rebels. Due to the rebel losses, the offensive was halted and the third phase of the Turkish operation was put on hold.[204][205] A late September piece in Al-Monitor assessed the campaign as follows: "IS has recaptured scores of Turkmen villages south of Jarablus from FSA militias. (...) From the outset, there were doubts about whether Euphrates Shield could be sustained without the involvement of Turkish ground troops. It was not difficult to foresee that the biggest weakness was the inadequacy of the motley crew of jihadists assembled under the FSA banner. To make up for this deficiency, the Turkish army will have to deploy increasing numbers of troops to advance southward in Syria and thus into the quagmire."[206]

In the immediate aftermath of the aborted offensive towards al-Bab, the rebels and Turkey launched a new offensive towards the ISIL-held town of Dabiq. On 1 October, the Turkish Parliament extended the military operation's mandate for another year.[207] The next day, Turkish-backed opposition forces started advancing; Turkmen villages Boztepe (Tallat al-Baydah), Türkmenbarı and Hurdanah were taken over by Turkish-backed rebel forces.[208]

On 5 October, Turkish-backed rebels, primarily driven by Sultan Murad Division, took control of 4 more villages from ISIL and, with the Turkish Special Forces, entered the small and strategic town of Akhtarin, easening the way for the planned attack on Dabiq.[209] The town was captured by them on 6 October.[210]

After taking control of the supply route between Al-Bab and Dabiq by taking Akhtarin and its vicinity, on 9 October, Turkey and the affiliated rebels announced that the area between Mare, Akhtarin and Kafrghan, an area which contains two important IS-held locations, Sawran and Dabiq, a military zone.[211] Same day the offensive started from 3 different fronts towards Dabiq, from north, south and east of the city and 7 villages were taken by FSA forces.[212]

On 10 October, Turkish forces and Turkish-backed rebels made significant advance and established control in all settlements on the way to town of Sawran from its north and northwest; and started pushing in to the town of Ihtamillat, last settlement east of Sawran.[213][214]

Talk about further Turkish military action against the Syrian Democratic Forces

Further information: Syrian Democratic Forces, Federalization of Syria, Rojava, and Rojava conflict

On his press conference on 19 September, Turkish President Erdoğan stated that "Turkish forces will go to wherever they need to go. We need to cease these areas from being a security threat for us", addeding that a possible "secure zone" or "no-fly zone" was "discussed with other important leaders". He also repeated Turkish government accusations against "the PYD" party and "its militant wing YPG" of "seizing and ethnically cleansing territories which don't belong to Kurds", criticizing alleged specific actions of YPG as "Tel Abyad, Suluk belonging to Arabs and Turkmens were taken over by YPG, these are not the only cases; similar events happened in Al-Hasakah and finally in Manbij area which has a 95% percent Arab presence.(...) These events are what also made it a necessity for us to start this intervention."[215][216]

On 20 September, the United States Department of Defense confirmed that U.S. Special Operation Forces were flying U.S. flags in the town of Tel Abyad in Kobanî Canton to deter Turkish harassment shelling or attacks.[217]

On 21 September, The New York Times reported that the U.S. administration "is weighing a military plan to directly arm Syrian Kurdish fighters combating the Islamic State, a major policy shift that could speed up the offensive against the terrorist group but also sharply escalate tensions between Turkey and the United States."[218] Reacting to reports of the U.S. sending arms to SDF forces located in Kobani and Tel Abyad, Turkey President Erdogan on 23 September claimed that "arming another terrorist group for fighting another terrorist group is not acceptable."[219] Following these statements, Turkish army shelled two YPG targets in the Tel Abyad area.[220]

On 25 September 2016, the U.S. spokesman for the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF–OIR) confirmed that the SDF, including the YPG, were also part of the "vetted forces" in the train and equip program and will be supplied with weapons. The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, condemned this and claimed that the SDF were "endangering our future".[221]

On 26 September, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş claimed that a significant portion of YPG in Manbij had started withdrawing to the east of Euphrates river and this move was welcomed by Turkey.[222] On 27 September, Turkey sent military units to the border region of Tel Abyad.[223] Same day Turkish FM Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu claimed that YPG units had not withdrawn from Manbij and its countryside and stated "this means USA either is not capable of influencing YPG or they do not want to influence them."[224]

On 28 September, United States Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that they are "against a connection between Kurdish self-declared cantons and won't give compromise on the territorial integrity of Syria", later adding that it should be understood that US is supporting SDF coalition against IS, not in particular the YPG.[225]

On 3 October, the Turkish government once again claimed that fighters of YPG were still present to the west of Euphrates and claimed that the United States must hold its alleged promise that they withdraw to the east of the river.[226] The following day, Yıldırım claimed that Turkey could use force to expel YPG from Jarabulus just like it did with ISIL.[227]

As a consequence of continuing Turkish verbal aggressions, the SDF spokesman on 4 October explicitly ruled out any Turkish participation in the upcoming joint military operation of the SDF and the CJTF–OIR to capture Raqqa from ISIL.[228]

International reactions

UN-member states

  •  Azerbaijan: Qənirə Paşayeva, member of parliament, said on 3 September that Turkey would have an obligation to protect the civilians in northern Syria from terror groups and would have the right to protect itself from the attacks originating from Syria with the intervention.[229]
  •  Bulgaria: Prime minister Boyko Borisov on 26 August said: "The Turkish Armed Forces have probably prevented a probable new migration wave of 2 million people with the Euphrates Shield operation in Syria's Jarablus with the coalition."[230]
  •  Cyprus: The Cyprus House of Representatives on 9 September unanimously adopted a resolution condemning "the unacceptable invasion of Turkey into Syria, under the pretext of war against terrorism." It also called on the international community to demand Turkey's withdrawal from Syria.[231]
  •  France: On 30 August President Francois Hollande criticized Turkey's "contradictory" military operation in Syria, saying he could understand Turkey's concern about protecting its borders and fighting ISIL, but criticized Ankara's actions against the People's Protection Units (YPG).[232]
  •  Germany: On 24 August, the German foreign ministry spokesperson supported Turkey's action against "terrorist activities" in northern Syria.[233] Furthermore, it added that the Euphrates Shield operation was part of international efforts to overcome ISIL in the region.[234] However, on 28 August the Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemned Turkish attacks against the SDF and pointed out that Turkey has to join the war against ISIS not to fight Syrian Kurds, while also condemning PKK attacks in Turkey.[235]
  •  Iran: Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi on 31 August urged Ankara to quickly wrap up its military intervention in Syria, saying it was an "unacceptable" violation of Syrian sovereignty.[236]
  •  Israel: Israeli ambassador in Ankara Oron said that Turkey's concerns in regards to fighting Islamic State (ISIL) are legitimate.[237]
  •  Netherlands: The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Bert Koenders on 28 August called for Turkey and Syrian Kurds to work against ISIL instead of fighting amongst themselves and Syrian Kurdish groups to be included in the peace talks. Nevertheless, he called the PKK a terrorist organization and it should be looked into which Kurdish representatives will participate in the talks.[238] On 8 September, a representation office of the Federation of Northern Syria - Rojava was inaugurated in The Hague.[239]
  •  Russia: Russia's foreign ministry on 24 August said in a statement that Moscow was deeply worried by the escalation of tension on the Turkish-Syria border.[240] On 6 September, Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking at a press conference following the G20 Hangzhou summit in China said that: "Turkey's operation in Syria was not something unexpected for us. Foreign Affairs and Intelligence exist so that we face fewer unexpected developments. We understood what was going on and where things would lead."[241]
  •  Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir reiterated on 9 September his country's full backing of Turkish military operations in northern Syria against ISIL, YPG, and suggested a military solution remained the strongest option to get rid of Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad.[242]
  •  Syria: The Syrian foreign ministry on 25 August condemned "this blatant breach to its sovereignty" by Turkey. Syria said: "Fighting terrorism on Syrian territory from any side should have been coordinated with Syrian government and the Syrian army that has been fighting in these battles for five years".[102] Also, added that "substituting (ISIS) with other terrorist organizations backed directly by Turkey" is not "fighting terrorism."[243] On 2 September, the Ministry of Education of Syria announced that it resumes teaching in the schools of Manbij, which was then reported starting at 28 September.[244]
  •  Turkey: Turkey said the operation was an act of self-defence, in response to ISIS shelling of Turkish border towns and suicide bombings and attacks targeting Turkish nationals and also that "Our border must be completely cleansed of Daesh (ISIS)".[79] The Turkish foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, said that YPG should return east of Syria's Euphrates River. Both Manbij and Jarabulus are west of the river.[102] Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik said preventing the PYD party from uniting the PYD cantons east of Jarabulus with those further west was a priority."[74] Turkish Deputy PM Numan Kurtulmus: All parties were notified of Euphrates Shield including Damascus. They were informed about the operation via Russia.[245] On 25 August 2016, the largest opposition party in Turkey, Republican People's Party (CHP), publicly supported Operation Euphrates Shield, calling it "long overdue", while "calling on the government to engage in a sincere fight against ISIL, not just in Jarabulus, but inside our own borders".[246] On 2 September 2016, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that "the PYD forces had not yet retreated to the east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria despite claims by the U.S. that the group was withdrawing." Furthermore, added that Turkey's operation into Jarabulus was not an incursion and it was conducted to resettle the local Arab population back into their towns.[247]
  •  United States: US vice-president Joe Biden in the early days of the Turkish offensive publicly warned YPG forces in Syria that they would lose US support if they fail to "go back across the river" (east of the Euphrates).[97][108] Biden arrived in Turkey instead of John Kerry in a move seen as an ‘upgraded’ of the U.S. diplomatic mission.[248] As Turkey launched a major attack against the SDF on 28 August, the Pentagon refused to comment, other than stating that the SDF remained an important partner in the war against ISIL.[249] On 29 August, CENTCOM clarified that it had no involvement in Turkish or Turkish backed rebel activities against the SDF. On the same day, the U.S. military voiced its "concern" over the clashes between Turkey and Kurdish-aligned forces in Syria.[3] On 31 August, the U.S. said Turkey's actions after taking Jarabulus were "unacceptable" and CENTCOM commander Joseph Votel said that the U.S. will continue to support the YPG.[250] On 2 September 2016, US vice-president Joe Biden responded to a heckler that shouted: "Why did you tell the YPG to go back across the border?" Biden responded by saying: "Because the deal was to get them into Manbij, and to work, was they go back across the Euphrates so we could have special forces move in — that's why".[251] On the same day, U.S. President Barack Obama said ahead of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China that "Turkey continues to be strong NATO ally, they are working with us to defeat ISIL."[252]

Supranational Organizations

Other regional actors

  •  Iraqi Kurdistan: The head of the Iraqi autonomous Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, said on 24 August that Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey had agreed on a strategy to fight ISIL.[259] On 15 September, when asked about Turkey's military intervention and PYD; Barzani accused PYD of "seizing" areas in Syria and following outlawed PKK's policies. "Due to its non-inclusive policies, the PYD does not enjoy the support of other elements in Syria and continues to support Syria's Assad regime without any thought for the future of the Kurds in the region." Barzani stated.[260] Barzani's political affiliation, KDP, doesn't recognize PYD as representative of Kurds in Syria.[261]
  •  Rojava: Hediya Yousef, co-chairwoman of the constitutional assembly of the Federation of Northern Syria - Rojava, said that "we have decided to convene a meeting of the founding assembly of the federal system at the start of October, and we will declare our system in northern Syrian. We will not retreat from this project. On the contrary, we will work to implement it. The Turkish intervention will not obstruct us."[262] The Shahba region civilian council condemned the occupation of Jarabulus as a Turkish attempt to expand into Syria, likening it to the Battle of Marj Dabiq and suggesting that Jarabulus would become a "grave for the criminal occupier Erdogan and his mercenaries".[27] Among SDF component groups, YPG forces said that the Turkish operation is motivated more by the desire to stop their advance at Jarabilus than by anti-ISIL sentiment.[78] The Seljuq Brigade of Syrian Turkmen accused Turkey of being an occupying force and Turkish intelligence of making a deal with ISIL to hand over Jarabulus to Turkey-backed rebel groups, demanded that Turkey withdraw from Syria and announced their intention to fight Turkish forces.[263] Macer Gifford, a prominent British volunteer with the YPG and leader of its medical unit, commented that "the Turks have allowed ISIL on their border for years, smuggling weapons and supplies to ISIL. Now that the secular and democratic Kurds are advancing, Turkey is unilaterally intervening in the conflict for their own selfish national interest."[165]
  • Syrian opposition Syrian National Coalition: The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces commended Turkey and other countries participating in anti-ISIL coalition for their support of the rebel offensive on Jarabulus town. The Syrian National Coalition claimed foreign military presence in and around Jarabulus to be temporary and limited to the provision of logistical support.[264][265]

International law issues

The Syrian government denounced the intervention as a "blatant violation of its sovereignty" and said that "fighting terrorism isn’t done by ousting ISIS and replacing it with other terrorist organisations backed directly by Turkey".[268] Turkey′s officials were cited to state that the operation was in line with the country's right to self-defence and a mandate given to the armed forces by the Turkish parliament in 2014;[269] also cited was Resolution 2249 adopted by the UN Security Council in November 2015 that while failing to invoke the UN's Chapter VII, which gives specific legal authorisation for the use of force,[270] did urge UN members to "redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL also known as Da’esh as well as ANF, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al-Qaida, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the United Nations Security Council, and as may further be agreed by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and endorsed by the UN Security Council".[271]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Operation 'Euphrates Shield' ends ISIL rule in Jarablus". Al Jazeera. 25 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b Leith Fadel (24 August 2016). "US to provide air cover for Turkish, Syrian forces in Jarabulus". al-Masdar News.
  3. ^ a b "US warns over Turkish-Kurdish violence". BBC. 29 August 2016.
  4. ^ "YPG: We will not withdraw from west of the Euphrates". Rudaw. 24 August 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "British YPG fighters 'head to Manbij to face Turkish forces'". Middle East Eye. 2 September 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d "US backing ensures Arab-Kurd alliance in Syria will survive". Al-Monitor. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  7. ^ a b IS is losing connection with the international world and being besieged inside the Syrian lands SOHR (4 September 2016)
  8. ^ "TSK: 32 Köy Terörist Unsurlardan Temizlendi". Yeni Asır. 31 August 2016.
  9. ^ a b Izat Charkatli (26 August 2016). "YPG withdraws from Menbeij amid Turkish pressure". al-Masdar News.
  10. ^ a b Paul Antonopoulos (28 August 2016). "Photos: FSA & Islamists near Jarabulus find YPG ID cards, weapons". al-Masdar News.
  11. ^ "'Over 20,000' return to freed Syrian town of Jarabulus". Anadolu Agency. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  12. ^ "3 bin 462 Suriyeli DAEŞ'ten temizlenen Cerablus'a döndü". Anadolu Agency. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  13. ^ "Syria / Euphrates Shield Updates". FSA News. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  14. ^ Suriye'de 1000 kilometrekare kontrol altında
  15. ^ Turkish Special Forces: From stopping a coup to the frontline of the ISIL fight Hürriyet Daily News, 24 August 2016.
  16. ^ a b Nick Tattersall; Humeyra Pamuk (26 August 2016). "Turkey signals no quick end to Syria incursion as truck bomb kills police". Reuters.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Korgeneral İsmail Metin Temel Cerablus'ta". Hürriyet Daily News. 26 August 2016.
  18. ^ "Turkish Forces and Rebels Storm Into Syria, Taking IS Stronghold of Jarablus". VOA. 24 August 2016.
  19. ^ "SULTAN MURAT TÜMENİ KOMUTANI FEHİM İSA TATHAMUS TÜRKMEN KÖYÜNÜN DEAŞ TERÖR ÖRGÜTÜNDEN TEMİZLENDİĞİNİ AÇIKLADI". 24 August 2016.
  20. ^ "Sultan Murat Tugayları: Önce Çobanbey ardından Menbiç'e ilerleyeceğiz". 25 August 2016.
  21. ^ "TÜRKMEN KOMUTANIMIZ ALİ SALİH ŞEHİT DÜŞTÜ". 4 October 2016.
  22. ^ a b "ÖSO komutanlarından Türkiye'ye teşekkür". 25 August 2016.
  23. ^ a b c d Albin Szakola (25 August 2016). "Turkey-backed rebels aim for key ISIS-held town". NOW.
  24. ^ a b "FSA 13th brigade field commander killed in clashes with IS north Aleppo". Stork on Twitter. 18 September 2016.
  25. ^ a b c "Turkish-backed FSA rebels set their sights on last IS Aleppo stronghold after border victory". Syria:direct. 5 September 2016.
  26. ^ a b "41K Turkish soldiers ready to support operation Al Bab". Yeni Şafak. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  27. ^ a b c d "Kurdish-backed council says Turkey's intervention to make Syrian town "grave for Erdogan troops"". ARA News. 26 August 2016.
  28. ^ a b c "Çobanbey'in ardından muhaliflerin yeni hedefi Cerablus". AJANS HABER. 9 April 2016.
  29. ^ "LIVE: Turkish military, coalition forces launch 'Euphrates Shield' operation in Jarablus". Hürriyet Daily News. 24 August 2016.
  30. ^ "أبطال المجاهدين داخل قرية كرسنلي بعد طرد تنظيم داعش منها ضمن معركة #درع_الفرات". Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror Brigade on Twitter. 4 September 2016.
  31. ^ "Cerablus'taki Durumu, Suriye Türkmen Meclisi Bşk. Anlatıyor - Detay 13 - TRT Avaz". 7 September 2016.
  32. ^ "Syria à la Carte: Turkish Invasion Highlights Rapidly Shifting Alliances-Maximilian Popp and Christoph Reuter". JK Alternative Viewpoint. 31 August 2016.
  33. ^ Serhat Erkmen (1 September 2016). "Analiz: Fırat Kalkanı'nda bir haftalık bilanço". DW.
  34. ^ "تعزية الفصائل العسكرية باستشهاد القائد العسكري للقوة المركزية في الفرقة13". Fastaqim Union on Twitter. 18 September 2016.
  35. ^ a b "Turkish-led forces capture first village in northern Syria". al-Masdar News. 24 August 2016.
  36. ^ "#FSA forces have freed Jbin from #Daesh in northern rural #Aleppo province near to al-Rai town". FSA News on Twitter. 1 October 2016.
  37. ^ "بيان تشكيل المجلس العسكري لمدينة أخترين و ريفها". 3 September 2016.
  38. ^ "New rebel group formed in Idlib". AMN. 20 September 2016.
  39. ^ "August 24, 2016". Daesh Daily. 25 August 2016.
  40. ^ a b "Mountain Hawks Brigade withdraw from Euphrates Shield and head to Aleppo". ARA News. 17 September 2016.
  41. ^ http://qasioun.net/en/news/show/37188/Ahrar_Al_Sharqya_Withdraw_From_Euphrates_Shield_As_They_Refuse_The_US_Forces_Interfere_To_Rai_Video
  42. ^ Caleb Weiss (29 August 2016). "Two US-backed groups clash in northern Syria". The Long War Journal.
  43. ^ "فرقة حلب الأولى - The first band of Aleppo". First Division of Aleppo on Facebook. 18 September 2016.
  44. ^ Christoph Ehrhardt (26 August 2016). "Krieg in Syrien - Die Trennlinien verschwimmen". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German).
  45. ^ "Front rebels Syria braced for a fight early Jarablos". Al-Bawada. 26 August 2016.
  46. ^ "Liwa Sultan Süleyman Şah - a new turkmen asayish force for Jarablus". Ömer Özkizilcik on Twitter (in Turkish). 30 September 2016.
  47. ^ "Syrian Turkmen Assembly Inside "Free" Jarablus". Syrian Turkmen Assembly. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  48. ^ a b Susan Fraser; Philip Issa (24 August 2016). "U.S. warplanes support Turkish tanks attacking Islamic State forces in Syria". Military Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  49. ^ "IMPORTANT: JaishAlosra elite armed group of #Daesh arrived #Aleppo last week to protect #Dabiq. They re-controlled 15 town in 2 days #A24". 22 September 2016.
  50. ^ a b "Kurdish-aligned group in north Syria says targeted by Turkish warplanes". al-Masdar News. 27 August 2016.
  51. ^ Wladimir van Wilgenburg; Jan Mohammed (28 August 2016). "Conflict between US-led coalition allies increases, one Turkish soldier killed". ARA News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  52. ^ a b "Turkey, US-led coalition launch major operation in northern Syria". Reuters. 24 August 2016.
  53. ^ "Operasyona 450 asker katıldı, 15000'e çıkabilir". Çağdaş Ses. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  54. ^ "350 Turkish soldiers taking part in Euphrates Shield". Hurriyet Daily News. 25 August 2016.
  55. ^ Leith Fadel (24 August 2016). "[Breaking] Turkish tanks enter northern Aleppo". al-Masdar News.
  56. ^ "Syria:Coalition of US-led troops prepare to advance into Dabiq". The Guardian. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  57. ^ "Mercenary and fanatical forces in Syria hate US even if they're taking their arms and money". Russia Today. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  58. ^ "US forces hit Isis targets in Syria with mobile rocket system". Guardian. 3 September 2016.
  59. ^ 3 killed (26 Aug.),[1] 11 killed (4 Sep.),[2] 2 killed (6 Sep.),[3] 5 killed (17 Sep.),[4] 2 killed (18 Sep.),[5] 21 killed (3 Oct.),[6] 1 killed (4 Oct.),[7] 2 killed (5 Oct.),[8] 29 killed (6 Oct.),[9] 13 killed (7 Oct.),[10] 2 killed (8 Oct.),[11] 30 killed (9–11 Oct.),[50 killed during clashes around Dabeq between rebels and IS ] total of 121 reported killed
  60. ^ "YPG holds Turkey-backed rebels accountable for torturing Kurdish fighters". ARA News. 1 September 2016.
  61. ^ Turkish soldier, 2 Syrian rebels killed fighting IS in Syria
  62. ^ 19 wounded (24 Aug.–7 Sep.),[12] 1 wounded (17 Sep.),[13] 5 wounded (20 Sep.),[14] 3 wounded (27 Sep.),[15] 3 wounded (5 Oct.),[16] total of 31 reported wounded
  63. ^ 2–3 (27 Aug.),[17][18][19] 1–2 (30 Aug.),[20] 2 (6 Sep.),[21] 1 (9 Sep.),[22] 0–1 (18 Sep.),[23] total of 6–9 reported tank losses
  64. ^ The Turkish deputy prime minister put the enemy forces (both ISIL and YPG) death toll at 110 as of 7 September,[24] of which 25 were previously claimed by Turkey to be Kurdish fighters,[25] leaving an estimated 85 ISIL fighters in the toll. In addition, the Turkish military claimed 40 ISIL militants were killed on 22 September,[26] 21 on 5 October,[27] and 38 on 8–9 October,[28] making a total of at least 184 ISIL militant deaths per Turkey.
  65. ^ a b c "40 dead as Turkish shelling, raids hit Syrian civilians". AFP. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  66. ^ a b "Violent continuous confrontations at the countryside of Jarabulus and aerial bombardments on the northern countryside of Aleppo". SOHR. 27 August 2016.
  67. ^ "Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - Timeline - Facebook". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  68. ^ "6 YPG killed by Turkish army in Afrin". Rudaw. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  69. ^ "Free Syrian Army frees villages around Jarabulus". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  70. ^ "#IslamicState Claims 11 Kurdish Fighters Killed By 2 IEDs Near #Manbij". Terror Monitor on Twitter. 6 October 2016.
  71. ^ "Erdogan says Syria operation aimed at IS jihadists, Kurdish PYD". 24 August 2016.
  72. ^ "Turkish army-backed rebels advance inside Syria on ISIL - MIDEAST".
  73. ^ "Turkey could be overplaying its hand with Syria ground offensive as civil war reaches crucial point". independent.
  74. ^ a b "Turkey deploys more tanks in Syria, warns Kurdish YPG". aljazeera.
  75. ^ "Turkey sends tanks into Syria in operation aimed at Isis and Kurds".
  76. ^ "Turkish tanks enter Syria to open new front against Islamic State".
  77. ^ "Turkish forces open second front against DAESH in Syria".
  78. ^ a b c "Turkey's Syria offensive aimed at Kurdish YPG". 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  79. ^ a b c d e f "Turkish tanks, special forces launch first major push into Syria to battle IS". Reuters. 24 August 2016.
  80. ^ "Turkish army thrusts deeper into Syria, monitor says 35 villagers killed". Reuters. 29 August 2016.
  81. ^ "Let's be clear about the nature of this operation in Jarabulus. It was not targeting the IS – it was targeting Syrian Kurds. In fact, there was a deal pre-cooked between Ankara and the Islamic State whereby the Islamic State fighters merely changed their uniforms to look like the Free Syrian Army. This was a rescue of the Islamic State in Jarabulus from the PYD offensive. It didn't advance the goal of killing Islamic State fighters, or help the United States and the multinational coalition in its drive to contain jihadis." David Phillips, director of the Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University, former senior foreign affairs advisor in the State Department under Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama, on the BBC Newshour programme, September 6, 2016.
  82. ^ Phillips, David L. (29 August 2016). "Erdogan's Waterloo: Turkey Invades And Occupies Syria". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  83. ^ Idiz, Semih (8 September 2016). "ISIL is a transient phenomenon, the Kurds are not". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  84. ^ "Syrian Turkmen call on Turkey to expand military operations in Syria". Rudaw. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  85. ^ "Turkey Launches Fresh Incursion Into Syria". Wall Street Journal. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  86. ^ "Putin mends broken relations with Turkey′s Erdogan". BBC. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  87. ^ "Opposition groups are preparing to break into Jarabulus, northern Aleppo, from Turkey". ARA News. 20 August 2016.
  88. ^ "Turkey Strikes Islamic State And Kurds In Syria". Sky News. 23 August 2016.
  89. ^ "Turks Shell Isis But Keep Sights On Jarabulus". Morning Star Online. 24 August 2016.
  90. ^ "Turkey Shells Islamic State in Syria". wsj. 23 August 2016.
  91. ^ a b "Fırat Kalkanı Operasyonu'nda Cerablus'tan ilk kareler". Habertürk. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  92. ^ "Cerablus Harekatı'nda TSK'ya ÖSO ve Türkmenler Destek Veriyor". T24. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  93. ^ "İşte Kırmızı ve Mavi Bantların Sırrı". Hürriyet. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  94. ^ "Cerablus Operasyonu'nda 'renk' ayrıntısı". Sözcü. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  95. ^ Şafak, Yeni (11 April 2010). "Sosyal Hizmet'li kadroya geçiyor". Yeni Şafak (in Turkish). Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  96. ^ "Turkish jets bomb Daesh targets in Jarabulus". Trend News Agency. 24 August 2016.
  97. ^ a b c d "Turkey sends tanks into northern Syria". bbc. 24 August 2016.
  98. ^ "Turkish military, US-led coalition launch operation to sweep Islamic State from Syrian town". ABC News. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  99. ^ "Operation Euphrates Shield: Timeline". Yeni Şafak. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  100. ^ "Turkey-backed opposition forces enter Daesh's stronghold". Yeni Şafak. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  101. ^ "Turkish and US-backed Syrian rebels have captured a key ISIS border crossing". Business Insider. 24 August 2016.
  102. ^ a b c "Turkey sends tanks into Syria to battle ISIS". CNN. 24 August 2016.
  103. ^ "IS conflict: Turkey-backed Syrian rebels 'take Jarablus'". BBC. 24 August 2016.
  104. ^ "Syria: Turkish-backed rebels 'seize' Jarablus from ISIL". Al Jazeera. 25 August 2016.
  105. ^ "What Turkey stands to lose in its hunt for Syrian Kurds". Al-Monitor. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  106. ^ Phillips, David L. (1 September 2016). "Erdogan's Waterloo: Turkey Invades And Occupies Syria". Huffington Post.
  107. ^ "Isis fighter reveals group's plan to spread even after defeat in Iraq and Syria and claims collusion with Turkey". The Independent. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  108. ^ a b "Remarks by Vice President Joe Biden and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim at a Press Availability". 25 August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  109. ^ "YPG: We will not retreat from west of Euphrates". ANF News. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  110. ^ Izat Charkatli (24 August 2016). "Turkish-backed rebels fight US-backed rebels in Aleppo". al-Masdar News. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  111. ^ "Clashes break out between Turkish-backed rebels and Syrian Democratic Forces". ARA News. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  112. ^ "The countryside of Jarablos witnesses the first clash between the fighters of the faction that controlled Jarablos city against Syria Democratic Forces". SOHR. 24 August 2016.
  113. ^ Albin Szakola (25 August 2016). "Turkey, US-backed forces clash in north Syria". NOW.
  114. ^ Lizzie Dearden (25 August 2016). "Syria war: More than 20 Turkish tanks cross border as Jarablus in second day of offensive against Isis and Kurds". The Independent. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  115. ^ Emine Kart (25 August 2016). "Kerry to Çavuşoğlu: PYD/YPG withdrawing to east of Euphrates". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  116. ^ "U.S.-led alliance says Syrian force withdraws to prepare for Raqqa campaign". Reuters. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  117. ^ "Syrian Kurdish YPG says it returned to base after Manbij's capture". Reuters. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  118. ^ "Turkey fires on U.S.-backed Kurdish militia in Syria offensive". Reuters. 25 August 2016.
  119. ^ "Turkey shells Kurdish fighters in Syria after warning". al-Masdar News. 26 August 2016.
  120. ^ "SDF and rebels advance over IS in Menbej and Jarablis". SOHR. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  121. ^ "Clashes between mercenaries in Jarablos city". ANHA. 25 August 2016.
  122. ^ "Turkish-backed FSA 'cleansing' Syrian town of Daesh: Turkish minister". Yeni Şafak. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  123. ^ "Turkey risks all-out war with Kurds in Syria after air strike kills 35". The Telegraph. 28 August 2016.
  124. ^ "Syrian group says Turkey mounts air strike south of border". Reuters. 27 August 2016.
  125. ^ "Turkish-backed rebels advance against US-backed rebels". al-Masdar News. 27 August 2016.
  126. ^ "Turkey targets Kurdish forces south of Syria's Jarablus". aljazeera.
  127. ^ "The Latest: Turkish Soldier Killed in Syria by Rocket Attack". nytimes.
  128. ^ a b "Turkish army says 25 PKK/PYD militants killed in airstrikes in Syria's Jarablus". 28 August 2016.
  129. ^ "Free Syrian Army fighters clearing mines in Jarablus". 27 August 2016.
  130. ^ "Türk Kızılayı Cerablus'ta yardım dağıttı". 27 August 2016.
  131. ^ Fiona Keating (27 August 2016). "Isis recaptures Syrian border town al-Rai after defeat in Jarablus by Turkish-backed rebels". IBTimes. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  132. ^ Izat Chakratli (26 August 2016). "ISIS recaptures Al-Rai following massive attack". Al Masdar News. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  133. ^ a b "Fighting Escalates on Turkey-Syria Border, Endangering U.S. Forces". wsj. 28 August 2016.
  134. ^ Paul Antonopoulos (24 August 2016). "Reports: Further civilians killed near Jarabulus by Turkey". al-Masdar News.
  135. ^ "Turkish bombardment kills 20 civilians in Syria". AFP. 28 August 2016.
  136. ^ "40 dead as Turkish shelling, raids hit Syrian civilians". 28 August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  137. ^ Paul Antonopoulos (28 August 2016). "Free Syrian Army capture host of villages from SDF near Jarabulus". al-Masdar News.
  138. ^ Paul Antonopoulos (29 August 2016). "Fifth Day of Turkey's Syria intervention explained". al-Masdar News.
  139. ^ "28 08 2016 Cerablus teqina tanka tirkan 1". ANF. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  140. ^ Izat Charkatli (28 August 2016). "Video: Turkish-backed jihadists torture Kurdish POWs". al-Masdar News.
  141. ^ "Cerablus'a dönmek isteyenlere yardım vereceğiz". Al Jazeera Türk. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  142. ^ "Çavuşoğlu YPG etnik temizlik yapıyor" (in Turkish). EN. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  143. ^ "Syrian-Kurdish YPG fighters reinforcing Syria's Manbij: security sources". Reuters. 29 August 2016.
  144. ^ "Syria war: US warns over Turkish-Kurdish violence". BBC. 29 August 2016.
  145. ^ Paul Antonopoulos (29 August 2016). "Free Syrian Army engage with ISIS and YPG this morning in Jarablus". al-Masdar News.
  146. ^ "Conitnued bombardment by Turkish forces on Jarablis countryside". SOHR. 29 August 2016.
  147. ^ a b "Turkey, Syrian Kurdish ceasefire in doubt only hours after US confirmation". Middle East Eye. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  148. ^ "Kurdish-backed forces agree on ceasefire with Turkish army in northern Syria". Xinhua. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  149. ^ "US' comments about Turkey's targets in Syria unacceptable, says Turkish MFA". Daily Sabah. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  150. ^ "No Turkish ceasefire with Syrian Kurdish fighters: Turkish military sources". The Daily Star. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  151. ^ "Kurdish official claims cease-fire with Turkey, Syrian rebels deny". Haaretz. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  152. ^ "U.S. lauds fragile respite between Turkey, Kurdish fighters in Syria". Reutere. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  153. ^ "Turkish tank hit by rocket, 3 soldiers injured in Syria's Jarablus". Daily Sabah. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  154. ^ "Turkey: 'Operations will continue in northern Syria'". Al Jazeera. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  155. ^ "Silence is taking over Jarablis countryside". SOHR. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  156. ^ "Kurds East of Euphrates Now, Top US General Says". Voice of America. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  157. ^ a b "Syria war: Turkey hits out at US over Kurds comments". BBC. 31 August 2016.
  158. ^ "Turkey rejects US claims of ceasefire with Syrian Kurds". Middle East Eye. 31 August 2016.
  159. ^ Izat Charkatli (31 August 2016). "ISIS recaptures villages from Turkish-backed militants". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  160. ^ "Turkish military clearing mines from Syrian border". 1 September 2016.
  161. ^ "We are leaving the Raqqa front and heading to Manbij". Bob Crow Brigade on Twitter. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  162. ^ "British volunteers in Syrian Kurd forces are 'terrorists', Turkey says". Middle East Eye . 1 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  163. ^ "Turkey warns: we will treat Britons fighting with Kurds as terrorists". The Telegraph. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  164. ^ "Brits who join Kurdish militias are 'spies, crusaders & terrorists,' says Turkey". 2 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  165. ^ a b "Western members of YPG reject Turkish attacks on Rojava, but won't fight Turkey". ARA News. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  166. ^ "Turkey-backed FSA captures Syrian village of Qundarah from Daesh". Daily Sabah. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  167. ^ "Turkish warplanes strike and destroy 3 Daesh sites in northern Syria". Daily Sabah. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  168. ^ "Turkish tanks roll into Syria, opening new line of attack".
  169. ^ "US forces hit Isis targets in Syria with mobile rocket system, official says". The Guardian. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  170. ^ "Turkish tanks open new line of attack in Syria's north". ABC News. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  171. ^ "More Turkish tanks enter Syria in new front". Middle East Eye . 3 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  172. ^ Lizzie Dearden (3 September 2016). "Syrian war: More Turkish tanks cross border into al-Rai as operation against Isis and Kurds enters 'new phase'". The Independent. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  173. ^ "Turkish tanks roll into Syria, opening new line of attack". Reuters. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  174. ^ The "Islamic state" almost lost the rest of its border with Turkey and the outside world SOHR (3 September 2016)
  175. ^ "Around 50 US soldiers arrive in Turkey to use newly-deployed HIMARS system". Hurriyet Daily News. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  176. ^ Mroue, Bassem; Bilginsoy, Zeynep (4 September 2016). "Turkey Says ISIS Has Lost All Territory Along the Turkey-Syria Border". time.com. Time. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  177. ^ "Syria's war: ISIL 'driven out' from Turkey-Syria border". Al Jazeera. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  178. ^ "Nine more Syrian villages cleared of Daesh terrorists by the FSA: Turkish army". Daily Sabah. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  179. ^ "IS rocket attack kills Turkish soldiers in Syria". BBC. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  180. ^ "Daesh attacks Turkish tanks in Northern Syria, leaving 3 soldiers dead, 4 wounded". Daily Sabah. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  181. ^ "Turkish soldiers killed in ISIL rocket attack in Syria". Al Jazeera. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  182. ^ "Syrians return to Jarablus from Turkey after DAESH ousted". TRT World. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  183. ^ "Syrian Kurdish fighters still not pulled back in north Syria: Turkey's Canikli". Reuters. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  184. ^ "Islamic State evacuating headquarters in Syria's al-Bab". Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  185. ^ "AIslamic State evacuating headquarters in Syria's al-Bab". ARA News. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  186. ^ "Turkey to continue military operation in northern Syria". news.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  187. ^ "Turkey Insists on No-Fly Zone in Syria, NATO Non-Committal". ABC News. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  188. ^ "America opposes no-fly zone over Syria". Middle East Monitor. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  189. ^ "3 Turkish soldiers martyred fighting Daesh in Syria". Daily Sabah. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  190. ^ "Turkish air strikes kill 20 ISIS militants in Syria". Al Arabiya. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  191. ^ "Anti-ISIL coalition kills six militants in 'Euphrates Shield' in northern Syria". Hürriyet Daily News. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  192. ^ "Bin 900 Suriyeli Cerablus'a döndü". Al Jazeera Türk. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  193. ^ "Turkish Army Has Destroyed 26 Mines, 671 Ieds İn Syria". Haberler.com. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  194. ^ a b "Ahrar Al-Sharqya Withdraw From Euphrates Shield As They Refuse The US Forces Interfere To Rai (Video) - Qasion News Agency". Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  195. ^ a b "US troops 'forced to flee Syrian town' after FSA rebel threats". Middle East Eye. 16 September 2016.
  196. ^ a b "US Special Forces to back Turkish troops in Syria". France24. 16 September 2016.
  197. ^ a b "5 FSA fighters killed in bomb attack in northern Syria". Daily Sabah. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  198. ^ "Turkey: Syria operations strike 67 Daesh targets". Daily Sabah. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  199. ^ Leith Fadel (19 September 2016). "ISIS counters Turkish-backed rebels in northern Aleppo". Almasdar News. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  200. ^ "At Long Last, Turkey Secures U.S. Ground Support". Stratfor. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  201. ^ "ÖSO 5 köyü daha IŞİD'den aldı". Al Jazeera Türk. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  202. ^ Antonopoulos, Paul (20 September 2016). "Free Syrian Army factions capture villages from ISIS". Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  203. ^ Antonopoulos, Paul (20 September 2016). "ISIS rapidly recapturing villages from Turkey-backed militants in northern Syria". Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  204. ^ Leith Fadel (23 September 2016). "Turkish-backed rebels lose over 20 villages to ISIS in northeast Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  205. ^ Desk, News (22 September 2016). "ISIS recaptures several villages from Turkish-backed rebels". Retrieved 26 September 2016. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  206. ^ "Turkey faces decision over boots on the ground in Syria". Al-Monitor. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  207. ^ "Turkish Parliament extends military operation mandate for another year". Daily Sabah. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  208. ^ "TSK: 960 kilometrekarede denetim sağlandı". Al Jazeera Türk. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  209. ^ "Turkish Air Forces Pounds IS-held Akhtarin as Turkish Special Forces Enter the City". WN. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  210. ^ Turkish-backed rebels capture important town from ISIS in northern Aleppo Al-Masdar News (6 October 2016)
  211. ^ "IŞİD'in Bab'la Dabık Arasındaki İkmal Yolu Kesildi". Haberler.com. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  212. ^ "FSA advance towards Dabiq and Sawran". Hassan Ridha. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  213. ^ "Fırat Harekatı'nın 48.günü". Sözcü. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  214. ^ "Fırat Kalkanı Harekatı'nda Son Durum". Vatan. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  215. ^ "Erdoğan'dan Fırat operasyonu çıkışı: Nereye gitmemiz gerekiyorsa gideceğiz". Al Jazeera Türk. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  216. ^ "Türkiye ABD'yi Tel Abyad rahatsızlığından haberdar etti". Sputnik. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  217. ^ "Mysterious American Flags In Northern Syria Were Planted By U.S. Troops, Pentagon Says". Huffington Post. 20 September 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  218. ^ "Obama Administration Considers Arming Syrian Kurds Against ISIS". New York Times. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  219. ^ "Erdoğan: ABD 3 gün önce Kobani'ye silah gönderdi". Al Jazeera Türk. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  220. ^ "Turkey bombs Kurdish positions near Syria's Tel Abyad". ARA News. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  221. ^ "US sending arms to Kurdish-led SDF in Syria, Turkey's Erdogan outraged". ARA News. 25 September 2016.
  222. ^ "Turkey welcomes withdrawal of Syrian Kurdish fighters from Manbij - Deputy PM". Reuters. 26 September 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  223. ^ "Cerablus Operasyonu: Suriye'ye takviye zırhlı birlikler sevk edildi". Diken. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  224. ^ "Çavuşoğlu'ndan ABD'ye: YPG'yi Münbiç'ten ya gönderemiyor, ya göndermek istemiyor". Al Jazeera Türk. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  225. ^ "Blinken:Kürt kantonlarının birleştirilmesine karşıyız". Al Jazeera Türk. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  226. ^ "Turkey says U.S. must ensure Kurdish militia withdraws to east of the Euphrates". Reuters. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  227. ^ "PYD/YPG are PKK under other names: PM Yildirim". Anadolu Agency. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  228. ^ "قوات سوريا الديمقراطية ترفض اي مشاركة تركية بتحرير الرقة". Kurdistan24. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  229. ^ sitesi, milliyet.com.tr Türkiye'nin lider haber. "AZERBAYCAN MİLLETVEKİLİ PAŞAYEVA:". MİLLİYET HABER - TÜRKİYE'NİN HABER SİTESİ. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  230. ^ "Turkey prevented flow of 2 mln new migrants with operation: Bulgarian PM". 26 August 2016.
  231. ^ "Cyprus House condemns Turkey's invasion of Syria". Famagusta Gazette. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  232. ^ "France criticizes Turkish military operation in Syria". 30 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  233. ^ "Germany backs Turkey's drive against ISIS and Kurds". Associated Press. 24 August 2016.
  234. ^ "EU states support Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield to liberate Jarablus". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  235. ^ "Germany warns Turkey from attacking Kurds in Syria". Iraqi News. 28 August 2016.
  236. ^ "Iran urges Turkey to quickly end Syria intervention". France24. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  237. ^ "İsrail'den Türkiye'ye destek". Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  238. ^ "Netherlands demanding Turkey to work with the Kurds in Syria". ARA News. 28 August 2016.
  239. ^ "Syrian Kurds inaugurate representation office in the Netherlands". ARA News. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  240. ^ Foundation, Thomson Reuters. "Russia says deeply worried by Turkish operation in Syria". news.trust.org. Retrieved 24 August 2016. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  241. ^ "Turkey's Syria operation 'not unexpected': Putin - World Bulletin". Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  242. ^ "Saudi Arabia backs Turkish action against Kurds in northern Syria". Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  243. ^ "Why Turkey sending tanks into Syria is significant". cnn.
  244. ^ "Syrian kids relish return to school in ex-IS bastion". ReliefWeb (AFP). Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  245. ^ "Hükümet Sözcüsü Kurtulmuş: Cerablus operasyonundan Esad da haberdardı". T24.
  246. ^ "Turkish Parliamentary Parties React to "Euphrates Shield" Operation". 25 August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  247. ^ "Erdoğan says PYD not retreating to east of Euphrates". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  248. ^ Joe Biden came, saw, but failed to conquer Turkey Asia Times, 26 August 2016.
  249. ^ "The Pentagon refuses commenting on Turkish targeting of SDF points". ANHA. 28 August 2016.
  250. ^ "US Will Continue to Back Kurdish Group Opposed by Turkey: Votel". Military.com. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  251. ^ "Joe Biden gave an unexpected response to a protester who said his friends died in combat in Syria". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  252. ^ "Turkey continues to be a strong NATO ally, work with us to defeat Daesh, says Obama". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  253. ^ "PYD should stay on east of Euphrates, says EP member Brok". 28 August 2016.
  254. ^ "Wir sind froh, dass die Türkei aktiv gegen den IS eingreift". 13 September 2016.
  255. ^ "Stoltenberg visiting Turkey in show of solidarity". 9 September 2016.
  256. ^ "NATO chief says welcomes Turkey's efforts against Islamic State: NTV". Reuters. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  257. ^ "NATO, EU officials visit Turkey for first time post-coup attempt". 9 September 2016.
  258. ^ "In meeting with Turkey's President, UN chief stresses country's key role in fighting ISIL". 3 September 2016.
  259. ^ "Barzani in Ankara. Big changes coming to the region". 24 August 2016.
  260. ^ "Barzani genießt nicht die unterstützung anderer gruppen". Nachrichten Express. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  261. ^ "Barzani accuses PYD policies". e-Kurd. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  262. ^ "Syrian Kurds, allies to approve federal plan despite Turkey". Reuters. 8 September 2016.
  263. ^ Taştekin, Fehim (1 September 2016). "Is Turkey falling into its own Syriantrap?". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  264. ^ "Syrian Coalition Welcomes Turkish Support for FSA Offensive in Jarablos". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  265. ^ "Syria, Kurds condemn Turkish incursion".
  266. ^ "Syrian Turkmen call on Turkey to expand military operations in Syria". rudaw.net. Rudaw. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  267. ^ "Syrien: Turkmenen fordern von Türkei Befreiung von el-Bab und Manbidsch". Eurasia News DE. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  268. ^ Syria condemns Turkey's breach of Syria's sovereignty in Jarablos SANA, 24 August 2016.
  269. ^ "Turkey 'using right to self-defence' in Euphrates Shield". TRT World. 24 August 2016.
  270. ^ "Paris attacks: UN backs 'all necessary measures' against IS". BBC. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  271. ^ "Security Council 'Unequivocally' Condemns ISIL Terrorist Attacks, Unanimously Adopting Text that Determines Extremist Group Poses 'Unprecedented' Threat". un.org.

External links

36°49′08″N 38°00′40″E / 36.819°N 38.011°E / 36.819; 38.011

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Euphrates_Shield&oldid=743996885"