2018 Syrian–Turkish border clashes

Journalist Ahmet S. Yayla stated that the operation by Turkey may have been carried out to relocate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and al-Qaeda elements from Idlib in light of the demilitarization agreement between Russia and Turkey. Salih Muslim, the former co-chairman of the Democratic Union Party, stated that Russia and Turkey were plotting to send jihadists to fight against the YPG as part of the agreement.{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/turkeys-erdogan-has-grand-plans-for-al-qaedas-syrian-spin-off|title=Turkey's Erdogan Has Grand Plans for al Qaeda's Syrian Spin-Off|first=Ahmet|last=Yayla|date=8 October 2018|newspaper=The Daily Beast}} On 30 October 2018, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said to a public gathering prior to the operation, "The plan is to remove the YPG, collect their heavy weaponry and finally allow the real Manbij people to be in full control of their city."{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/kurds-in-syria-we-have-right-to-respond-to-turkish-attacks-/4637931.html|title=Kurds in Syria: We Have Right to Respond to Turkish Attacks|first=Sirwan|last=Kajjo|publisher=Voice of America|date=31 October 2018}}

File:2018 Syrian-Turkish border clashes.svg

The Turkish military reported that four Kurdish terrorists were killed and another six were injured in the shelling of YPG positions.{{cite news|url=http://www.beloitdailynews.com/article/20181031/AP/310319893|title=Turkish military again shells Kurdish positions in Syria|date=31 October 2018|agency=Associated Press|access-date=31 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031202419/https://www.beloitdailynews.com/article/20181031/AP/310319893|archive-date=31 October 2018|url-status=dead}} The Syrian Democratic Forces states that the attack had temporarily halted operations against ISIL near the Iraqi border. The Syrian Democratic Forces also stated that Turkish strikes were not limited to Kobani, but surrounding areas along the Syria–Turkey border held by Rojava. On 30 October 2018, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed to clear the Eastern Euphrates region of Kurdish separatists, while on 29 October Turkish forces had targeted YPG positions along the Euphrates river.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey/turkish-forces-shell-northern-syria-kurdish-led-force-responds-idUSKCN1N51KO|title=Turkish Forces Shell Northern Syria, Kurdish-Led Force Responds|date=31 October 2018|publisher=Reuters}} In response to the attack, the SDF redeployed multiple units from the Deir Ez Zor region to confront the Turkish forces.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/eastern-euphrates-under-daesh-threat-again-as-sdf-troops-forced-to-confront-turkish-military-in-northern-syria/|title=Eastern Euphrates under Daesh threat again as SDF troops forced to confront Turkish military in northern Syria|date=31 October 2018|publisher=Al-Masdar News|author=Leith Aboufadel|access-date=31 October 2018|archive-date=15 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315080731/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/eastern-euphrates-under-daesh-threat-again-as-sdf-troops-forced-to-confront-turkish-military-in-northern-syria/|url-status=dead}} In retaliation, the YPG stated that it destroyed a Turkish vehicle and released a video of the attack;{{cite tweet|https://twitter.com/defenseunits/status/1057598043598606336|user=defenseunits|number=1057598043598606336}}{{dead link|date=November 2022}}{{dead link|date=June 2023}} however, the statement has not been acknowledged by the Turkish government.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-us-backed-forces-claim-turkish-military-vehicle-destroyed-in-retaliatory-attack/|title=Breaking: US-backed forces claim Turkish military vehicle destroyed in retaliatory attack|date=31 October 2018|publisher=Al-Masdar News|author=Leith Aboufadel|access-date=1 November 2018|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331074056/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-us-backed-forces-claim-turkish-military-vehicle-destroyed-in-retaliatory-attack/|url-status=dead}} A Turkish military vehicle fired at the border station in the town of Tell Abyad, leaving one dead from the SDF's Self-Defense Forces.{{cite web|url=http://www.hawarnews.com/ar/haber/d8a7d984d8a7d8add8aad984d8a7d984-d8a7d984d8aad8b1d983d98a-d98ad8b3d8aad987d8afd981-d983d8b1d98a-d8b3d8a8d98a-d987d8b0d987-d8a7d984d985d8b1d8a9-d988d8a7d8b3d8aad8b4d987d8a7d8af-d985d982d8a7d8aad984-h9764.html|title=الاحتلال التركي يستهدف كري سبي هذه المرة واستشهاد مقاتل - ANHA - وكالة أنباء هاوار|publisher=Hawar News Agency}}

With the US holding positive relations with both Turkey and the Syrian Democratic Forces, an American military delegation reportedly arrived in Tell Abyad to attempt to mediate between the two parties to attempt to resolve the conflict.{{cite web|url=https://syriadirect.org/news/fighting-between-turkish-army-kurdish-led-forces-in-northeast-syria-continues-despite-american-efforts-to-de-escalate/|title=Fighting between Turkish army, Kurdish-led forces in northeast Syria continues despite American efforts to de-escalate|website=Syria Direct|date=31 October 2018|author1=Mohammad Abdulssattar Ibrahim|author2=Alice Al Maleh}}

On 1 November 2018, the Turkish military targeted Kobani with helicopters as well as howitzers in preparation for an offensive{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-military-ups-the-ante-in-northern-syria-with-new-attack-on-ypg-stronghold/|title=Turkish military ups the ante in northern Syria with new attack on YPG stronghold|date=1 November 2018|publisher=Al-Masdar News|author=Leith Aboufadel|access-date=2 November 2018|archive-date=7 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107185520/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-military-ups-the-ante-in-northern-syria-with-new-attack-on-ypg-stronghold/|url-status=dead}} and coordinated plans for an offensive with allied opposition groups based in Afrin.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-intelligence-informs-rebels-to-get-ready-for-battle-east-of-euphrates-monitor/|title=Turkish intelligence informs rebels to get ready for battle east of Euphrates: monitor|date=2 November 2018|publisher=Al-Masdar News|author=Leith Aboufadel|access-date=2 November 2018|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331072510/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-intelligence-informs-rebels-to-get-ready-for-battle-east-of-euphrates-monitor/|url-status=dead}}

Clashes continued with sporadic shelling and on 6 November Turkey targeted the town of Ras al-Ayn, a YPG supply point.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-turkish-army-attacks-ypg-forces-in-northwest-al-hasakah/|title=Turkish Army attacks YPG forces in northwest Al-Hasakah|date=6 November 2018|publisher=Al-Masdar News|author=Leith Aboufadel|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331071030/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-turkish-army-attacks-ypg-forces-in-northwest-al-hasakah/|url-status=dead}}

On 21 November, United States Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis announced the U.S. will set up new observation posts along the Turkish border in northern Syria in order to reduce similar incidents between Turkish forces and Kurdish terrorist groups in the region. The endeavor is seen as a way of easing tensions between the two NATO allies and doesn't require additional U.S. troops to be deployed to Syria.{{cite news|url=http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/211120182|title=US to establish observation posts on Syria-Turkey border: Mattis|work=Rudaw Media Network|date=21 November 2018}} The move is controversial due to U.S. lawmakers voicing concerns over mission creep in Syria in recent weeks and months.{{cite news|url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/11/21/the-us-military-is-putting-brand-new-observation-posts-in-northern-syria/|title=The US military is putting brand new observation posts in northern Syria|date=21 November 2018}} A total of three observation posts were to be set up in Tal Abyad and two in Kobani. The first Tal Abyad post was completed on 27 November.{{cite news|url=http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/d1868d74-26e6-4609-917d-325b8f1d9a21|title=Kurdistan 24 captures completion of first US observation post on Syria-Turkey border|work=Kurdistan 24|date=27 November 2018}} Three total observation posts were established by 12 December. "The positions were clearly marked and any force attacking them would definitely know they are attacking the United States", said a US official.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-idUSKBN1OB18J|title=Turkey to launch operation against U.S.-backed Kurds in Syria 'in a few days'|newspaper=Reuters|date=12 December 2018|via=www.reuters.com|last1=Erkoyun|first1=Ezgi}}

On 12 December 2018, the Turkish government announced it would begin operations against Rojava "in a few days" in an apparent rebuke of US efforts at ensuring Turkish border security in the area.{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/turkey-will-start-operation-east-of-euphrates-in-syria-in-a-few-days-574135|title=Turkey will start operation east of Euphrates in Syria in a 'few days'|website=The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com|date=12 December 2018 }} In response, the Pentagon said that any unilateral military action taken in northern Syria, where US forces are operating, would be "unacceptable."{{cite news|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-pentagon/unilateral-military-action-into-northeast-syria-unacceptable-pentagon-idUSKBN1OB2WC|date=12 December 2018|title=Unilateral military action into northeast Syria 'unacceptable': Pentagon}} However, several days later the US announced the withdrawal of their troops from Syria, after which Turkey postponed the planned attack.{{cite news|work=Hürriyet Daily News|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-delay-operation-east-of-euphrates-in-syria-erdogan-139924|date=21 December 2018|title=Turkey to clear Syria of both YPG, ISIL: Erdoğan}}

On 25 December, the SDF handed over the town of Arima west of Manbij to troops of the Syrian government.{{cite news|publisher=Al-Masdar News|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-kurdish-forces-handover-town-near-manbij-to-syrian-army/|title=Breaking: Kurdish forces handover town near Manbij to Syrian Army|date=25 December 2018|access-date=25 December 2018|archive-date=24 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624161631/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-kurdish-forces-handover-town-near-manbij-to-syrian-army/|url-status=dead}}

Through 27–28 December, the Manbij Military Council had invited Syrian troops to enter Manbij in order to ward off a future Turkish advance. Syrian forces gradually deployed to the surrounding countryside as American troops continued to patrol inside the city and along the contact lines with the Syrian National Army, whose units continued to deploy and mobilize along the Manbij frontier.{{cite web | url=https://www.wsfa.com/2018/12/28/latest-us-led-coalition-says-no-syrian-troops-manbij/ | title=The Latest: Turkey-backed Syrians brace for key town clash | website=wsfa.com | access-date=4 June 2020 | archive-date=31 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331092550/http://www.wsfa.com/2018/12/28/latest-us-led-coalition-says-no-syrian-troops-manbij/ | url-status=dead }}

Following criticism of the planned withdrawal of their troops, on 6 January the US imposed the security of their Kurdish-led allies as a condition for the withdrawal.{{cite news|work=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/01/06/world/middleeast/ap-united-states-syria.html|title=Trump Adviser: US to Leave Syria Once IS Beaten, Kurds Safe|date=6 January 2019|access-date=7 January 2019}}

{{reflist}}

{{Syrian Civil War}}

Category:Conflicts in 2018

Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war in 2018

Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the People's Defense Units

Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving Turkey

Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Syrian Democratic Forces