2018: Turkish military in Syria

The Turkish military intervention in Syria (January 2018–present), code-named by Turkey as Operation Olive Branch (Turkish: Zeytin Dalı Harekâtı), is an offensive against Syrian Democratic Forces positions surrounding the Syrian city of Afrin. Afrin and the surrounding area is claimed by the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria as the Afrin Region.

Background

The offensive came amid growing tensions between the Turkish and American governments over the latter's support of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are made up primarily of Kurdish fighters of the YPG, which Turkey considers to be a branch of the PKK. In particular, Turkey objected to announced plans by the US to train and equipe a 30,000 strong SDF border force, which Turkey claimed posed a direct threat to their security. “A country we call an ally is insisting on forming a terror army on our borders,” Turkish Prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a speech in Ankara. “What can that terror army target but Turkey? Our mission is to strangle it before it’s even born.”

In days prior to the offensive, Turkish forces had exchanged artillery fire with YPG militiamen along the Turkish-Syrian border near Afrin. The Turkish state-runned Anadolu Agency reported that Russian military observers in the Afrin area began withdrawing on 19 January 2018 in anticipation of a Turkish offensive on YPG positions in Afrin.

2018 Offensive

The Turkish government announced the start of the offensive on 19 January 2018 with Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli stating, "The operation has actually de facto started with cross-border shelling." He added no troops had crossed into Afrin. Turkey intensified its shelling later, while People's Protection Units (YPG) claimed that 70 shells had been fired overnight.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that 14 people in a psychiatric hospital had been wounded due to shelling by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Turkish media reported that 20 buses carrying Turkish-backed Syrian opposition rebels had crossed into Syria through the Öncüpınar border crossing. An AFP [French Press Agency] photographer stated that 30 buses carrying Syrian fighters had also crossed through the Cilvegozu border crossing.

In al-Shahba canton, according to pro-SDF sources, the fighters of the Jaysh al-Thuwar in al-Shahba canton inflicted vast damage to the ranks of the FSA as they killed 4 FSA fighters, and wounded 5 others, and that in response to the recent bombardments with mortars and Obis haphazardly against the civilians’ houses.

International Reactions from UN Members

Germany: The spokesman assistant of the minister of foreign affairs said they understand that Turkey wants to protect their borders, but suggests moderation regarding armed conflict.

Syrian Arab Republic: The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the Turkish aggression against the town of Afrin, calling it "an inseparable part of Syria.”

The Turkish General Staff: made the announcement in a statement published on its website, saying the objective of the mission is to "establish security and stability on our borders and region, to eliminate terrorists of PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and ISIL.”

United States:  A spokesman for the Pentagon stated: "We encourage all parties to avoid escalation and to focus on the most important task of defeating ISIS." The spokesman then added that the United States understands Turkey's concerns about the PKK, but would like to see a de-escalation of violence and instead focus on fighting ISIS. US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert called on Turkey not to engage in any invasion of Syria's Afrin, reiterating a statement made by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who also assured that the US had no intention of building a Syria-Turkey border force, saying the issue, which has incensed Ankara, had been "misportrayed.”

Russian Republic:  The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Moscow was closely following the situation in Syria's Afrin and was concerned by the news about the Turkish military engagement in the city. The Russian Ministry of Defense said that Russia was withdrawing its troops from Syria's Afrin, the target of the Turkish offensive.

Reactions from Regional Actors

Syrian National Coalition:  Syrian Turkmen councilhead Emin Bozoğlan stated "We were informed that the terror group PYD/PKK will transfer its arms to Raqqa, where they used to work with regime forces for years." He also said Turkey should "definitely" take necessary measures in this regard.

The YPG stated that "they will respond to the Turkish provocation since civilians have been attacked".General Command of YPG in Afrin stated: "We know that, without the permission of global forces and mainly Russia, whose troops located in Afrin, Turkey cannot attack civilians using Afrin air space. Therefore we hold Russia as responsible as Turkey and stress that Russia is the crime partner of Turkey in massacring the civilians in the region.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_military_intervention_in_Syria_(January_2018%E2%80%93present)