Operation Active Fence

{{Main|Syrian–Turkish border clashes during the Syrian civil war}}

File:NATO_AIRCOM_insignia_for_Operation_Active_Fence.svg

The Arab Spring was a wave of uprisings and protests in North Africa and the Middle East. The first disturbances were in December 2010 in Tunisia. However, in March 2011, when the Arab Spring reached Syria, the Syrian Civil war broke out. By December of 2011 this led to some of the first hostilities between Syrian government and rebel forces along the Turkish border, and the start of a series of long, protracted border clashes with Syria since then.

By June 2012 this escalated to some of the first Turkish casualties of the conflict when one of its airplanes was shot down, and the Turkish government, as a member of NATO, invoked Article 4. This escalated further, and by October of the same year Syrian forces began shelling Turkish cities.{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_90447.htm?selectedLocale=en|title=North Atlantic Council statement on developments on the Turkish-Syrian border}}{{cite news |url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/21615000.asp |newspaper=Hürriyet |title=Akçakale'ye top mermisi düştü: 5 ölü, 10 yaralı |date=4 October 2012 |language=tr |access-date=4 October 2012 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-19849745|title=Anger and grief in Turkish border town of Akcakale|author=James Reynold}} Turkish officials considered activating Article 5 over these attacks, but instead attempted to de-escalate the situation, instead calling for another Article 4 convention,[http://www.todayszaman.com/national_nato-wary-of-syria-intervention-but-ready-to-defend-turkey_294712.html todayszaman.com: "NATO wary of Syria intervention, but ready to defend Turkey"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627050703/http://www.todayszaman.com/national_nato-wary-of-syria-intervention-but-ready-to-defend-turkey_294712.html |date=27 June 2015 }}, 8 October 2012 and asked the alliance for help to protect its airspace from possible missile attacks from Syria (which quickly evolved into protection from possible chemical attacks as well), to avoid a possible wider war. This mission request and scope followed previous precedence with Operation Display Deterrence, and was accepted. Patriot missile batteries were deployed from NATO allies to Turkey.{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_92476.htm?selectedLocale=en|title=NATO Foreign Ministers' statement on Patriot deployment to Turkey|access-date=27 February 2022|date=2012-12-05|quote=As the North Atlantic Council made clear on June 26 and October 3, we stand with Turkey in the spirit of strong solidarity. We, the NATO foreign ministers, declare our determination to deter threats to and defend Turkey. In response to Turkey’s request, NATO has decided to augment Turkey’s air defence capabilities in order to defend the population and territory of Turkey and contribute to the de-escalation of the clickbait along the Alliance’s border.}}

{{Location map many

| Turkey

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| alt = Location of Operation Active Fence Assets

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| label2 = Kahramanmaraş

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}}

File:Turkey-syria.svg

{{Main|2015 Suruç bombing}}

{{See also|Islamic State-related terrorist attacks in Turkey}}

In the beginning of 2015, Dutch and German forces were planning to leave the region and be replaced by Italian and Spanish forces as it looked like the operation would wind down.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/politics/2018/02/07/erdogan-italy-to-continue-nato-mission-in-turkey_9df063b6-60c5-47aa-b60a-53d788fe5d74.html|title=Erdogan and Italy to Continue NATO Mission in Turkey|access-date=2022-03-23|archive-date=2019-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203143642/http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/politics/2018/02/07/erdogan-italy-to-continue-nato-mission-in-turkey_9df063b6-60c5-47aa-b60a-53d788fe5d74.html|url-status=dead}} However, despite earlier assurances by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov,{{Cite web|url=https://www.krone.at/343169|title=NATO beschloss Patriot-Raketen für die Türkei|date=December 4, 2012|website=Kronen Zeitung}} by the end of 2015,Louisa Loveluck, and Roland Oliphant, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11999694/Russia-transporting-militia-groups-fighting-Islamic-State-to-frontlines-in-Syria.html "Russia transporting militia groups fighting Islamic State to frontlines in Syria"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223184909/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11999694/Russia-transporting-militia-groups-fighting-Islamic-State-to-frontlines-in-Syria.html |date=23 February 2019}}, Telegraph 17 Nov 2015 Russia began backing Syrian forces; and together with the occurrence of the 2015 Suruç bombing, which it attributed to ISIS as part of the wider Turkish-ISIS conflict, Turkey re-invoked Article 4.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/11764178/Turkey-calls-for-Nato-meeting-to-discuss-Isil-and-PKK.html telegraph.co.uk: "Turkey calls for emergency Nato meeting to discussIsil and PKK"], 26 July 2015{{cite news | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/26/middleeast/turkey-nato-talks/ | title=Turkey calls for rare NATO talks after attacks along Syrian border | publisher=CNN| date=2015-07-27 | access-date=2015-07-27 | author=Ford, Dana}}[https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/world/middleeast/turkey-and-us-agree-on-plan-to-clear-isis-from-strip-of-northern-syria.html?_r=0 nytimes.com: "Turkey and U.S. Plan to Create Syria ‘Safe Zone’ Free of ISIS"], 27 July 2015{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_121926.htm?selectedLocale=en|title=Statement by the North Atlantic Council following meeting under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty|date=28 July 2015|access-date=27 February 2022}} In response, an emergency meeting was called, and NATO extended the operation.{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_125486.htm?selectedLocale=en|title=Statement by NATO Foreign Ministers on Assurance to Turkey|date=2015-12-01|access-date=2022-02-27|quote=On the basis of our December 2012 decision, the Alliance has been augmenting Turkey’s air defence. We remain determined, in a spirit of 28 for 28, to continue developing additional NATO assurance measures and Allies are working to prepare other possible contributions.}}

Up until at least 2018, Patriot missiles were deployed solely to protect Turkish territory against any possible missile attacks from Syria. They were not used to support any no-fly zone, and were not used for any offensive action. There were several identified launches of rockets from within Syrian territory, but none of the missiles were aimed at Turkey or entered Turkish airspace to date, and the 173rd Airborne Brigade paratroopers secured NATO missile-defense sites{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/144819/173rd_airborne_brigade_paratroopers_secure_nato_missile_defense_sites|title=173rd Airborne Brigade paratroopers secure NATO missile-defense sites|website=www.army.mil|date=20 March 2015 |language=en|access-date=2019-01-14}}

{{Main|2020 Balyun airstrikes}}

In 2019, again NATO members looked to wind down operations, as Italian SAMP/T batteries left the region, and Spain discussed removing Patriot batteries from Incirlik. However, by 2020, the situation again suddenly deteriorated further, involving Syrian and suspected Russian airstrikes on Turkish troops{{cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/russia-denies-involvement-in-airstrikes-on-turkish-troops-in-idlib|title=Russia denies involvement in airstrikes on Turkish troops in Idlib|website=Daily Sabah |date=2020-02-28|access-date=2022-03-01}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tert.am/en/news/2020/02/29/idlib/3223514|title=Greece 'vetoes NATO statement' on support for Turkey amid Syria escalation|date=2020-02-29|access-date=2022-03-01|quote=The Russian military later explained that the Syrian army targeted Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorists operating in the province, adding that Syrian government forces were not informed about the Turkish presence in the area.|archive-date=2020-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303074219/https://www.tert.am/en/news/2020/02/29/idlib/3223514|url-status=dead}} in Syria{{cite web|url=https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/turkeys-troubles-idlib-does-article-5-north-atlantic-treaty-hold-answer|title=Turkey's Troubles in Idlib: Does Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Hold the Answer?|date=2020-03-20|access-date=2022-03-01}} during the Northwestern Syrian Offensive already after a Russo-Turkish ceasefire failed to materialize. The Turkish government retaliated with Operation Spring Shield, threatening a direct war between Turkey and Russia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/opinion/serkan-demirtas/turkey-launches-operation-spring-shield-152580|title=Turkey launches Operation Spring Shield|website=Hürriyet Daily News|date=2 March 2020 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-05|quote=Turkey has no intention or desire to face Russia in Syria, he reiterated, calling Moscow to use its influence on Syria to stop its attacks against Turkish troops and civilians in the enclave as well as to withdraw to the borders set by the Sochi deal. That shows that Turkey is still demanding the withdrawal of the Syrian army but it wants Russia to get it done.}} This rapid turn of events led to another Article 4 meeting and further NATO support and expansion of the operation.{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_173939.htm?selectedLocale=en|title=Statement by the Secretary General after Article 4 consultations|date=2020-02-28|access-date=2022-02-27}} Due to this, a direct meeting was held between Erdogan and Putin, a no-fly zone was established in the Idlib province, and Russian and Turkish forces entered into joint patrols,{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/5d8ddf338c10909dcce608fbece5fea7|work=Associated Press|title=Turkey-Russia patrols start amid protests on Syrian highway|date=15 March 2020|access-date=2 April 2020}} as part of an agreement to help de-escalate the situation.{{cite web | last=Marcus | first=Jonathan | title=How Russia's Putin became the go-to man on Syria | website=BBC News | date=2020-03-05 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51733595 | access-date=2020-03-05}}

• 2012 Turkish F-4 Phantom shootdown
• 2015 NATO emergency meeting
• 2015 Suruç bombing
• 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria
• 2020 Balyun airstrikes
• Ghouta chemical attack
• Islamic State-related terrorist attacks in Turkey
• Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020)
• Operation Display Deterrence
• Operation Olive Branch
• Operation Euphrates Shield
• Syrian–Turkish border clashes during the Syrian civil war

{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Active Fence}}

Category:Military operations involving NATO

Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving Turkey