This article needs to be updated.(December 2024) |
The Turkish military operation in Idlib Governorate (Turkish: İdlib Harekâtı), code-named Idlib De-escalation Control Force activities[11] (Turkish: İdlib Gerginliği Azaltma Kontrol Gücü faaliyetleri) by Turkey, is an operation by the Turkish Armed Forces which started in October 2017, following the earlier Operation Euphrates Shield. It is the third cross-border operation by the Turkish military, following Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Shah Euphrates.
Turkish military operation in Idlib Governorate | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war | ||||||||
Turkish flags represent Turkish observation posts and other military installations as of 20 December 2020 | ||||||||
| ||||||||
Belligerents | ||||||||
Syrian Arab Republic Hezbollah |
Al-Qaeda Anti-ceasefire Hayat Tahrir al-Sham factions | |||||||
Units involved | ||||||||
| Unknown | |||||||
Strength | ||||||||
20,000—30,000[8] | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | ||||||||
(54 soldiers, 2 civilian including baylun Airstrike contractors)[9][note 1] Unknown | 197+ killed by TAF[10] | 4 killed by TAF |
Background
editThe operation was launched following the 2017 Astana agreement and subsequent Sochi agreement between Turkey, Russia and Iran. Among other things, the two agreements contained provisions for the Turkish Armed Forces to set up and maintain 12 observation posts within resistance-held territories in the Idlib Governorate.[12]
Timeline
edit2017
editThe Turkish Armed Forces set up their first observation outposts in Idlib in October 2017.[13] Following their deployment, there were reports of minor clashes with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants.[14]
2018
editIn February, the Turkish military observation outposts were expanded into northern and southeastern Idlib Governorate.[15][16] On 6 February, a Turkish observation was attacked by rockets and mortars, killing a Turkish soldier and wounding five others.[17]
On 22 May, the Turkish army established its twelfth and last military observation post in Idlib province.[18]
Idlib demilitarization
editOn 15 September 2018, the Turkish observation posts were made an official part of the 2018 Idlib demilitarization agreement.[19]
2019
editNorthwestern Syria offensive (April–August 2019)
editFollowing the start of the 2019 Northwestern Syria offensive, Turkish observation posts exchanged artillery fire with Syrian Army units multiple times.
In August 2019, the Turkish Armed Forces constructed an unofficial 13th observation post at Maar Hattat, 10 kilometers south of Ma'arrat al-Nu'man.[20][21][22]
In late August 2019, the Turkish observation post at Morek was fully encircled by the Syrian Army after it captured a rebel pocket in the region.[23] The Turkish government announced that it would not move or dismantle the post.[24]
Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019 – March 2020)
editIn late December 2019, the Turkish observation post near Sarman was encircled by the Syrian Army during the course of its Autumn offensive. Turkey has stated that it would not evacuate the post.[25]
2020
editOn 30 January 2020, following the Syrian Army's capture of Ma'arrat al-Nu'man, the Turkish Army set up two more observation posts – just South and North of the town of Saraqib. It then established a third post to the east of the town on 1 February.[26][27]
On 1 February 2020, the Syrian military encircled the Turkish observation post at Maar Hattat,[28] which was built following the Syrian Army's capture of Khan Shaykhun in the summer of 2019.[29]
On 3 February 2020, Syrian Army shelling killed seven Turkish soldiers and one civilian contractor. Seven soldiers were also wounded. The Turkish Army retaliated by targeting Syrian Army positions with artillery and howitzer fire, resulting in 13 dead.[30][31][32][33]
On 5 February, the Syrian Army captured the village of Tell Touqan and thus encircled the Turkish observation post located there. It was not immediately made clear whether or not the post was placed under siege.[34]
On 6 February, the Turkish Armed Forces established a new outpost at Taftanaz Military Airbase.[35] It was reportedly targeted by the Syrian Air Force just hours after its establishment.[36] The Syrian Army completely encircled the town of Saraqib, which hosts four unofficial TAF military installations.[37]
On 7 February, the Turkish Armed Forces created a new military post east of Idlib City, just west of Saraqib.[38]
On 8 February, the Turkish Armed Forces established yet another military post, this time located in the Al-Mastumah area between Idlib City and Ariha.[39] A day after the Syrian Army began encircling the Turkish observation post at Al-Eiss,[40] it managed to capture both the town and its corresponding hill after the rebel forces that previously controlled it withdrew following a three-pronged envelopment by government forces.[41]
On 10 February, five or six Turkish soldiers were killed and another seven were wounded due to artillery fire from the Syrian Armed Forces.[42]
On 14 February, the Turkish army set up a base at Deir Sunbul village.[43]
On 15 February, the Turkish army established two new military posts near Darat Izza.[44]
On 16 February, the Syrian Army shelled the Turkish military post at Shekh Aqil, reportedly injuring many Turkish soldiers.[45]
On 17 February, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Turkish military had established several more military posts, bringing the total number of official and unofficial Turkish military installations in Idlib up to 35.[46]
On 20 February, 2 Turkish soldiers died and 5 were reported wounded while they were assaulting, along with their proxies, the town of Al-Nayrab.[47]
On 26 February, 2 Turkish troops were killed and several others were reported wounded following a Syrian airstrike in Idlib province.[48] The Syrian Army captured Deir Sunbul,[49][50] besieging the nearby Turkish observation post stationed nearby in an area called Sheir Maghar.[51]
Operation Spring Shield
editOn 27 February, at least 33 Turkish soldiers were killed by Syrian or Russian airstrikes.[52] Rebel forces advanced on Saraqeb under the cover of Turkish missile fire, thus managing to recapture the town and lift the siege imposed on three of the four surrounding Turkish observation posts – to the north, west and south of the town. The eastern observation post remained surrounded by government forces.[53][49]
On 28 February, one Turkish soldier died and six more were wounded in Syrian air and artillery strikes in Idlib.[54]
Between 28 February and 6 March at least 165 Syrian soldiers and militiamen loyal to them were killed by Turkish Armed Forces in retaliation to Balyun airstrikes that killed at least 34 Turkish soldiers.[55]
Ceasefire (March 2020–November 2024)
editThis section needs to be updated.(June 2023) |
On 18 March, Turkish troops entered the de-escalation zone to reopen the M4 highway previously blocked by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and jihadist factions.[56]
On April 26, Turkish forces killed 4 fighters of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham in Idlib.[57]
On 5 May, Syrian forces destroyed a Turkish bulldozer with a missile in Al-Dweir checkpoint north of Saraqeb. A second bulldozer sent to retrieve the first was in turn destroyed by another missile, killing and wounding the drivers.[58]
On 27 May, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the death of a Turkish soldier by an explosion in the Aleppo-Latakia Highway in northwestern Idlib.[59] A convoy of Turkish military vehicles and opposition factions was targeted by a IED, Turkish helicopters evacuated the wounded to Al-Rayhaniyyah.[60]
On 9 September, the Turkish Armed forces said that Brigadier General Sezgin Erdoğan died while on duty on Idlib, Syria. According to Turkish officials, Sezgin Erdoğan died in a hospital after falling ill.[61]
On 19 October 2020, Turkey withdrew its military presence from its base at Morek, Hama Governorate.[62]
Deterrence of Aggression (November 2024–December 2024)
editOn 27 November 2024, a coalition of Syrian opposition groups called the Military Operations Command[63] led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and supported by allied Turkish-backed groups[64][65][66] in the Syrian National Army (SNA) launched an offensive against the pro-government Syrian Arab Army (SAA) forces in Idlib, Aleppo and Hama Governorates in Syria. The operation was codenamed Deterrence of Aggression[a] by HTS and stated as being launched in retaliation for the increased SAA shelling of civilians in the Western Aleppo countryside.[67] This is the first time that opposition forces in the Syrian civil war launched a military offensive campaign since the March 2020 Idlib ceasefire.[68][69]
On 29 November 2024, HTS and later the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) entered Aleppo and captured most of the city, amid the collapse of pro-government forces. The next day, opposition forces made rapid advances, capturing dozens of towns and villages as pro-government forces disintegrated, and advanced toward Hama in central Syria, subsequently capturing it on 5 December.[70][71] By 6 December, the SDF captured Deir ez-Zor in an offensive east of the Euphrates, while the newly formed Southern Operations Room and Al-Jabal Brigade captured Daraa and Suwayda in an offensive in the south. The HTS advanced further south toward Homs.[72][73] The US-backed Syrian Free Army (SFA) took control of Palmyra in the southeast of the country.[74]
On 7 December 2024, Southern Front forces entered the Rif Dimashq Governorate from the south, and came within 10 kilometers of the capital Damascus.[75][76] Later, opposition forces were reported to have entered the suburbs of the capital.[77] SFA forces moved towards the capital from the south east.[78][better source needed] By 8 December, they had captured Homs, which effectively cut Assad's forces from Syria's coast.[79]
On 8 December 2024, rebels captured the capital Damascus, toppling Bashar al-Assad's government and ending the Assad family's 53-year long rule over the country.[80]
List of observation posts
editThe following is a non-exhaustive list of observation posts and other military installations of the Turkish Armed Forces in Idlib:[2][81][82][83]
List of observation posts | ||
Location | Order of Construction | Date of Construction |
---|---|---|
Salva village near Al-Dana | 1 | 13 October 2017 |
Samaan village near Darat Izza | 2 | 23 October 2017 |
Aquil Mountain near Darat Izza | 3 | 19 November 2017 |
Al-Eiss near Al-Hadher | 4 | 5 February 2018 |
Tell Touqan | 5 | 9 February 2018 |
Sarman | 6 | 15 February 2018 |
Anadan | 7 | 17 March 2018 |
Zaytuneh | 8 | 3 April 2018 |
Morek | 9 | 7 April 2018 |
Rashidin in Western Aleppo | 10 | 9 May 2018 |
Zawiyah (Sheir Maghar) in southern Idlib | 11 | 14 May 2018 |
Ishtabrak in southwestern Idlib | 12 | 16 May 2018 |
Maar Hattat | 13 | 20 August 2019 |
Al-Tarnbah | 14 | February 2020 |
Al-Nayrab | 15 | February 2020 |
Al-Mughir | 16 | February 2020 |
Qminas | 17 | February 2020 |
Sarmin | 18 | February 2020 |
Taftanaz Military Airbase | 19 | February 2020 |
Maarat al-Naasan | 20 | February 2020 |
Maarrat Misrin | 21 | February 2020 |
Al-Jinah | 22 | February 2020 |
Kafr Karmin | 23 | February 2020 |
Al-Tawama | 24 | February 2020 |
Al-Fawj 111 | 25 | February 2020 |
Camp al-Mastumah | 26 | February 2020 |
Termanin | 27 | February 2020 |
Atarib | 28 | February 2020 |
Darat Izza | 29 | February 2020 |
Al-Barqali | 30 | February 2020 |
Nahli | 31 | February 2020 |
Maataram | 32 | February 2020 |
Sangul | 33 | February 2020 |
Nabi Ayyub | 34 | February 2020 |
Zabour | 35 | February 2020 |
Battu | 36 | 2020 |
Battu (2) | 37 | 2020 |
Kafr Nouran | 38 | 2020 |
Al-Ibzmo | 39 | 2020 |
Ram Hamdan | 40 | 2020 |
Al-Jinah (2) | 41 | 2020 |
Batabu | 42 | 2020 |
Sindiran | 43 | 2020 |
Baddaran | 44 | 2020 |
Al-Ibzmu (2) | 45 | 2020 |
Ram Hamdan (2) | 46 | 2020 |
Al-Jinah (3) | 47 | 2020 |
Bainasarah | 48 | 2020 |
Sanshiran | 49 | 2020 |
Al-Ibzmu (3) | 50 | 2020 |
Ram Hamdan (3) | 51 | 2020 |
Al-Jinah (4) | 52 | 2020 |
Diranjeh | 53 | 2020 |
Bdirnoran | 54 | 2020 |
Al-Ibzmu (4) | 55 | 2020 |
Ram Hamdan (4) | 56 | 2020 |
Al-Jinah (5) | 57 | 2020 |
Battu (3) | 58 | 2020 |
Sanshiran (2) | 59 | 2020 |
al-Nabi al-Nabi Ayyub | 60 | 2020 |
Jericho | 61 | 2020 |
Jannat al-Qura | 62 | 2020 |
Bassamas | 63 | 2020 |
Tell al-Nabi Ayyub | 64 | 2020 |
al-Qiyasat | 65 | 2020 |
Bisnqul | 66 | 2020 |
Maarat Marian | 67 | 2020 |
Mantaf | 68 | 2020 |
Muhambal | 69 | 2020 |
Tal Arqam | 70 | 2020 |
Qafin | 71 | 2020 |
Colour key |
---|
Official observation posts
|
Unofficial observation posts
|
Observation posts that Turkey has withdrawn from
|
Reactions
editWithin Syria
edit- Syrian government: An unnamed source at Syria's Foreign Ministry said, "The Turkish regime must abide by what was agreed in Astana."[84][85]
- Army of Revolutionaries: Ahmed Sultan, commander of the Army of Revolutionaries, accused Turkey of selling Idlib to the Syrian regime, Iran and Russia and called upon the people of Idlib to resist the planned Turkish, Iranian, and Russian intervention in Idlib.[86]
International reactions
edit- Russia: The head of the Russian delegation for the Astana talks, Alexander Lavrentyev, said that Russia was ready to act as a mediator between the Syrian government and Turkey regarding the situation in Idlib.[87]
Supranational reactions
edit- United Nations: The UN's special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said the creation of a fourth de-escalation zone is a positive development.[88]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Presented Turkish losses during the operation in Idlib Governorate do not include initial claims of 50–100 dead in the February 2020 Balyun airstrikes.[1][2][3][4] Instead, they include 34 soldiers killed in the airstrike confirmed by Turkey.[5]
References
edit- ^ "First Turkish military convoy enters Syria's Idlib". Reuters. 7 October 2017.
- ^ a b "في إطار سعيها لرصد منطقة معرة النعمان جنوبي إدلب.. القوات التركية تنشئ نقطة عسكرية جديدة في جبل الزاوية". 9 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ "سحب نقاط المراقبة التركية المحاصرة شمالي سوريا .. السياق والأهداف والسيناريوهات المتوقعة". 22 October 2020.
- ^ a b Blane Wallace (31 March 2020). "Turkey's Military Buildup in Syria's Idlib Province". Institute for the Study of War.
- ^ Sebastien Roblin (2 March 2020). "Turkish Drones and Artillery Are Devastating Assad's Forces In Idlib Province-Here's Why". Forbes.
- ^ Khaled al-Khateb (10 February 2021). "Who benefits from attacks on Turkish forces in Idlib?". Al-Monitor.
- ^ Neil Hauer (16 September 2020). "Kata'ib Khattab al-Shishani: Fact or fiction?". Middle East Institute.
- ^ "James Jeffrey: The Russians realize that they are sinking into the "Syrian quagmire" and we will keep the pressure on them". fresh-syria.net/. Al-Asharq Al-Awsat. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ 1 killed (6 Feb. 2018),[6] 1 killed (6 April 2019),[7] 1 killed (28 June 2019),[8] 58 killed (3 Feb.-5 March 2020; per Turkish President),[9][10] 72 killed (3 Feb.-5 March 2020; per SOHR),[11][12][13] 3 killed (18–19 March 2020),[14] 1 killed (27 May 2020),[15] 1 killed (5 June 2020),[16] 1 killed (12 June 2020),[17] 1 killed (6 Sep. 2020),[18] 1 killed (9 Sep. 2020),[19] 10 killed (2021),[20][21] total of 79–93 reported killed
- ^ "Military escalation in "De-escalation zone" 51 days on: 1,200,000 people displaced…2,640 killed…276 areas fall to regime forces". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. March 5, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
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- ^ "İdlib'de ilk gözlem noktası oluşturuldu". www.trthaber.com. 20 October 2017.
- ^ 08 Oct 2017 09:24 GMT (2020-05-24). "Turkey forces clash with Tahrir al-Sham in Syria | Syria News". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
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- ^ SYRIAN ARMY BESIEGES THIRD TURKISH OBSERVATION POST IN SOUTHERN GREATER IDLIB, South Front, February 1, 2020
- ^ Mudiq, Qalaat Al (February 1, 2020). "#Syria: fresh photo shows #TSK evacuated the Obs. Post in Maar Hatat before arrival of pro-Assad forces. Position was built after capture of #KhanSheikhoun last Summer. Pic via @SchoenbornTrent. http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.570703&lon=36.654296&z=15&m … https://twitter.com/QalaatAlMudiq/status/1221853590345732096 …pic.twitter.com/z7FctERR7I".
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(help)|title=
- ^ Syria war: Turkey will not let Syrian army advance in Idlib, says Erdogan
UN: Northwest Syria fighting displaces over 500,000 in 2 months
Turkey to keep military observation posts in Idlib, Syria - ^ "8 Turkish personnel, 13 Syrian troops killed in north Syria". AP NEWS. February 3, 2020.
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- ^ "بعد ساعات من تثبيت القوات التركية نقطة بداخله.. طائرات النظام الحربية تستهدف مطار تفتناز العسكري". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
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- ^ Five Turkish troops killed in clashes with Syrian army"SON DAKİKA HABERİ: İdlib'de 5 asker şehit". NTV (in Turkish). 10 February 2020.
- ^ "Turkish forces set up new military post in 111th regiment, west of Aleppo". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 15 February 2020.
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- ^ "القوات التركية تتمركز في مواقع جديدة بمحافظة إدلب رافعة تعداد نقاطها ضمن منطقة "بوتين – أردوغان" إلى 35". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (in Arabic). 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Nearly 45 regime and Turkish soldiers and rebels killed in shelling and violent battles on Al-Nayrab frontline, east of Idlib". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 21 February 2020.
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- ^ "Turkish artillery paves the way for the factions to advance further into areas surrounding Saraqeb". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- ^ "45 regime forces killed by bombing drones and war planes and Turkish artillery shelling ... and surface-to-surface missiles targeting the countryside of Aleppo". 28 February 2020.
- ^ "Military escalation in "De-escalation zone" 51 days on: 1,200,000 people displaced…2,640 killed…276 areas fall to regime forces • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". Archived from the original on 2020-06-23.
- ^ "Under HTS's supervision, Turkish forces set up guard posts and conduct patrol on their own". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ "Five HTS fighters killed or wounded in attacks by Turkish drones in eastern Idlib • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". Archived from the original on 2020-08-14.
- ^ "Hostilities | Regime forces attack Turkish bulldozer in rural Idlib, leaving casualties". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
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The latest offensive has been led by an Islamist militant group known at Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions backed by Turkey.
- ^ "Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo, Russia conducts strikes in support of Assad". Reuters.
With Assad backed by Russia and Iran, and Turkey supporting some of the rebels in the northwest where it maintains troops, the offensive has brought into focus the conflict's knotted geopolitics.
- ^ "Aleppo: Rebels 'take control' of airport as thousands of fighters seize most of Syria's second-biggest city". Sky.
The insurgents, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al Sham and including Turkey-backed fighters, also claim to be in control of all of Idlib province after launching their offensive on Wednesday.
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