Operation Spring Shield

{{Further|2020 Balyun airstrikes}}

On 27 February 2020, during the Dawn of Idlib 2 Operation, Turkish Army positions in Balyun, Idlib Governorate, came under attack from airstrikes allegedly conducted by the Syrian Air Force and the Russian Air Force. Resulting in the deaths of 36 Turkish soldiers,{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/turkey-syria-russia-troops-blamed-air-strike|title=Turkey blamed Syria for a deadly air strike. Its troops blame Russia|work=Middle East Monitor|first=Levent|last=Kemal|date=5 November 2021|access-date=8 November 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2020/gundem/erdogan-idlibde-59-sehit-verdik-5667724/|title=Erdoğan: İdlib'de 59 şehit verdik|website=www.sozcu.com.tr|date=8 March 2020 }} with a reported number of wounded ranging from 36 to 60.{{Cite web|url=https://ahvalnews.com/syrian-rebels/33-turkish-soldiers-killed-36-wounded-syrias-idlib-live-blog|title=33 Turkish soldiers killed, 36 wounded in Syria's Idlib - live blog|website=Ahval|access-date=2020-06-24|archive-date=2020-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214054704/https://ahvalnews.com/syrian-rebels/33-turkish-soldiers-killed-36-wounded-syrias-idlib-live-blog|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/02/turkey-syria-russia-deciphering-attack-on-turkish-troops.html|title=Deciphering Turkey's darkest night in Syria|first=Metin|last=Gurcan|date=February 28, 2020|website=Al-Monitor}}

The following day, Russia denied it had carried out the airstrikes and stated that it had made efforts to halt the Syrian military's firing to facilitate the safe evacuation of the Turkish troops. Russia said that the Turkish forces should not have been present in the area, where "counter-terror operations" were underway, and criticized Turkey for failing to notify them about the soldiers' presence in advance. On the contrary, Turkey maintained that Russia was well aware of the locations of Turkish troops, as the two countries regularly communicated about this matter.{{cite web | title=The Strike: Did Russia Knowingly Target Turkish Troops? | website=POLYGRAPH.info | date=2020-02-28 | url=https://www.polygraph.info/a/turkey-russia-syria-fact-check/30460458.html | access-date=2020-03-09}}

{{Further|Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020)#Operation Spring Shield}}

Following the air attack in Balyun, Turkey officially launched its military intervention, initiating Operation Spring Shield. The primary objective of this operation was to put a stop to the Syrian government forces' advancement on Syrian rebels in Idlib and push them back to their pre-offensive positions.{{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}}

On 28 February, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense reported that the Turkish armed forces had responded to the airstrikes and claimed to have "neutralized" 329 Syrian troops. Additionally, they claimed to have successfully destroyed five helicopters, 23 tanks, 10 armored vehicles, 23 artillery and howitzers, one SA-17, and one SA-22 air defense systems belonging to the Syrian government.{{cite web |title=Bakan Akar: 200'ü aşkın rejim hedefi ağır ateş altına alındı |url=https://www.ntv.com.tr/turkiye/bakan-akardan-idlib-aciklamasi-200u-askin-rejim-hedefi-agir-ates-altina-alindi,awStSE9uBkygl8uGfj5JKQ |website=NTV |access-date=28 February 2020}}[http://www.syriahr.com/?p=366030 45 regime forces killed by bombing drones and war planes and Turkish artillery shelling ... and surface-to-surface missiles targeting the countryside of Aleppo]

A Syrian military official acknowledged that their armored and technical vehicles had been heavily targeted, resulting in significant destruction of their arsenal in northwestern Syria.{{Cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-military-carries-out-massive-attack-against-syrian-army/|title=Turkish military carries out massive attack against Syrian Army|author=News Desk|date=February 28, 2020|access-date=June 19, 2020|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301161339/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-military-carries-out-massive-attack-against-syrian-army/|url-status=dead}}

A Turkish soldier, 11 Syrian soldiers and four members of the Lebanese Hezbollah were killed during the day.{{cite web|url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/156155/|title=24 Hours after the killing of tens of Turkish soldiers, regime's artillery kill and injure 3 others and drones kill officers of the regime and leaders of Hezbollah|work=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|date=28 February 2020}}{{cite news| last=Soldatkin | first=Vladimir | title=Russia, Turkey agree ceasefire deal for Syria's Idlib | website=Reuters | date=2020-03-06 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-idUSKBN20S161 | access-date=2020-03-19}}

On 29 February, Turkish airstrikes targeted the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center in As-Safira, which a Turkish official claimed was used to develop chemical weapons.{{cite news |title=45 قتيلا من قوات النظام بقصف طائرات مسيرة وحربية وقصف مدفعي تركي.. وصواريخ أرض-أرض تستهدف ريف حلب |url=https://www.syriahr.com/45-%d9%82%d8%aa%d9%8a%d9%84%d8%a7-%d9%85%d9%86-%d9%82%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%86%d8%b8%d8%a7%d9%85-%d8%a8%d9%82%d8%b5%d9%81-%d8%b7%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d9%85%d8%b3%d9%8a%d8%b1/366030/ |access-date=19 March 2021 |publisher=SOHR |date=29 February 2020}}{{cite news |title=Syrian chemical warfare facility destroyed in overnight Turkish strike: report |url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/1582963106-syrian-chemical-warfare-facility-destroyed-in-overnight-turkish-strike-report |access-date=19 March 2021 |publisher=I24 |date=29 February 2020}}

During the day, 48 Syrian government soldiers and militias, including 14 Hezbollah fighters were killed and at least 13 military vehicles were destroyed by Turkish strikes.{{cite web | url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/155997/ | title=Turkish air and ground bombardment kills nearly 50 regime soldiers in Idlib and Aleppo and destroys 13 military vehicles in 24 hours • the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights | date=29 February 2020 }}

On 1 March, two Syrian Su-24 jets were shot down by Turkish Air Force F-16s.{{cite web |title=بعد إسقاطها لمروحيتين الشهر الفائت.. القوات التركية تسقط طائرتين حربيتين تابعة للنظام السوري في أجواء محافظة إدلب |url=http://www.syriahr.com/?p=366361 |website=SOHR |date = March 2020|access-date=1 March 2020}} All four Syrian pilots safely ejected. Both Syrian and Turkish forces confirmed the downing.{{cite news|archive-date=2 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302110150/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syrian-troops-retake-key-northwestern-town-from-rebel-forces/2020/03/02/d7ae8120-5c62-11ea-ac50-18701e14e06d_story.html|title=Syrian troops retake key northwestern town from rebel forces|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syrian-troops-retake-key-northwestern-town-from-rebel-forces/2020/03/02/d7ae8120-5c62-11ea-ac50-18701e14e06d_story.html}} Meanwhile a Turkish TAI Anka drone was shot down by Syrian forces.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/assad-regime-aircraft-downed-in-nw-idlib/news|title=Assad regime downs Turkish drone in Syria after announcing airspace closure|first=Compiled from Wire|last=Services|date=March 1, 2020|website=Daily Sabah}} Additionally, Turkish drones bombed the 47th brigade in Hama Military Airport.{{cite news |title=طائرات مسيرة تركية تقصف "اللواء "47.. والمضادات الأرضية في مطار حماة العسكري تتصدى |url=https://www.syriahr.com/%d8%b7%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d9%85%d8%b3%d9%8a%d8%b1%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d8%b1%d9%83%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%b5%d9%81-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%a1-47-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85/366494/ |access-date=19 March 2021 |publisher=SOHR |date=1 March 2020}}

During the day, 19 Syrian soldiers were killed by Turkish drones attacks in Jabal al-Zawiya and Al-Hamidia, Idlib countryside.{{cite web |url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/156166/|title=Turkish drones kill 19 regime soldiers, the death toll of regime forces and loyalists rises to 93 in less than 72 hours|date=1 March 2020|work=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights}}

On 2 March, a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone was shot down by Syrian Air Defense Force near Saraqib.{{Cite web|url=https://defence-point.com/2020/03/19/wreckage-of-turkish-combat-drone-uncovered-in-southeast-idlib-pics/|title=Wreckage of Turkish combat drone uncovered In southeast Idlib (pics)|date=March 19, 2020|access-date=June 24, 2020|archive-date=March 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302060024/https://defence-point.com/2020/03/19/wreckage-of-turkish-combat-drone-uncovered-in-southeast-idlib-pics/|url-status=dead}} During the day, a Turkish soldier and 26 Syrian government soldiers were killed in the clashes in Jabal Al-Zawiyah, south Idlib countryside, Saraqib and its countryside.{{cite web|date=March 3, 2020|title=137 persons killed across Syria yesterday, including 40 regime soldiers and loyalists|url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/156320/|work=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights}}{{cite web|url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/156270/|title=Regime artillery fire leaves Turkish soldiers dead or wounded in rural Idlib|work=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|date=2 March 2020}}

On 3 March, the Syrian Army captured the strategic city of Saraqib and several surrounding villages after pushing back rebel forces supported by Turkish artillery and air power.{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200302-syria-army-retakes-saraqib-city-in-idlib-from-opposition/|title=Syria army retakes Saraqib city in Idlib from opposition|work=Middle East Monitor|date=4 March 2020}}[https://apnews.com/75cfdf548c889c4d946027eda1e23fdb Turkey’s Erdogan hopes to broker Syria truce in Moscow] The Turkish airstrikes on government targets reduced significantly amidst a further government advance toward the town of Afis.{{Cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=156267|title=115 regime soldiers, rebels and jihadists killed in 24 hours, while regime forces recapture Saraqeb and surrounding villages|date=3 March 2020|website=SOHR}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-attempts-to-advance-in-eastern-idlib-after-seizing-saraqib-city/|title=Syrian Army attempts to advance in eastern Idlib after seizing Saraqib city|author=News Desk|date=2020-03-03|website=AMN - Al-Masdar News {{!}} المصدر نيوز|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-03|archive-date=2020-11-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130081107/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-attempts-to-advance-in-eastern-idlib-after-seizing-saraqib-city/|url-status=dead}} Concurrently, a Syrian Air Force Aero L-39 Albatros was shot downed by a Turkish F-16 over Idlib, with conflicting reports over the pilots fate.{{Cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/?p=366802|title=بعد إسقاط تركيا لطائرته.. الفصائل تعثر على جثة الطيار في منطقة جبل الزاوية|date=3 March 2020|website=SOHR|language=ar}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-went-behind-enemy-lines-to-save-pilot-in-idlib/|title=Syrian Army went behind enemy lines to save pilot in Idlib|author=News Desk|date=2020-03-03|website=AMN - Al-Masdar News {{!}} المصدر نيوز|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-03|archive-date=2020-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303170928/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-went-behind-enemy-lines-to-save-pilot-in-idlib/|url-status=dead}} Meanwhile, a Turkish Bayraktar drone was shot down by the Syrian Army in the western Aleppo countryside.{{Cite web|url=https://fighterjetsworld.com/latest-news/aircraft-crash/two-turkish-air-force-drone-reportedly-shot-down-by-syrian-air-defense-over-idlib/20604/|title=Two Turkish Air Force Drone Reportedly Shot Down By Syrian Air Defense Over Idlib|date=3 March 2020 }}{{Cite web|url=https://tass.com/world/1126131|title=Syrian Army takes down Turkish drone in Idlib|website=TASS|access-date=2020-03-03}}

During the day, five Turkish soldiers were killed by Syrian bombardment in Taftanaz Airbase, Al-Tarnaba and Al-Mastouma camp.{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=156343|title=Turkish forces resume bombarding regime positions, while regime forces attempt to advance further northwest of Saraqeb|work= Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|date=4 March 2020}}[http://www.syriahr.com/?p=366756 Dead and wounded in the ranks of the Turkish forces with artillery shelling of the regime forces in Idlib countryside (In Arabic)], SOHR

On 4 March, Turkish sources claimed that Suheil al-Hassan was wounded by a drone strike near Saraqib.{{cite news |title=Esad'ın katliamcı generali Süheyl Hasan, SİHA ile vuruldu |url=https://www.ahaber.com.tr/video/gundem-videolari/son-dakika-haberi-esadin-katliamci-generali-suheyl-hasan-siha-ile-vuruldu-video |access-date=5 March 2020 |publisher=A Haber |date=5 March 2020}} A Turkish Bayraktar TB2 was shot down by Syrian forces in the Idlib Governorate.{{cite web|url=https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=187369|title=Images of one of the Turkish drones shot down by Syrian Arab Army units in Idleb|work=Syrian Arab News Agency|date=4 March 2020|access-date=4 March 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-shoots-down-turkish-drone-in-idlib-10th-in-3-days-photo/|title=Syrian Army shoots down Turkish drone in Idlib, 10th in 3 days: photo|work=Al-Masdar News|date=4 March 2020|access-date=4 March 2020|archive-date=13 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113012605/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-shoots-down-turkish-drone-in-idlib-10th-in-3-days-photo/|url-status=dead}}

During the day, 19 Syrian soldiers and seven non-Syrian fighters were killed by Turkish ground shelling and drones in Idlib countryside.{{cite web|url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/156574/|title=82 were killed yesterday including 46 of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them, and 36 others|work=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|date=5 March 2020}}

On 5 March 2020, the presidents of Turkey and Russia, Erdoğan and Putin, met in Moscow for high-level talks.{{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}} According to the statements made by the Turkish and Russian leaders following their one-on-one meeting, a ceasefire in the area of Idlib was to come into force from 00:00 hrs on 6 March. The terms of the ceasefire included a secure corridor 6 kilometers either side of the M4 highway, to be patrolled jointly by Russia and Turkey beginning on 15 March.{{cite web | title=Joint Turkish-Russian patrols to begin on March 15 – latest updates | website=TRT World | date=2020-03-07 | url=https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/joint-turkish-russian-patrols-to-begin-on-march-15-latest-updates-34168 | access-date=2020-03-12}}

On February 29, Reuters reported that nine Hezbollah militants were killed and 30 wounded in an attack by the Turkish Air Force.{{Web source |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/world/turkish-strike-in-syria-kills-nine-hezbollah-members-wounds-30-source-idUSKBN20N0GI/ |title= Turkish strike in Syria kills nine Hezbollah members, wounds 30: source |accessdate= December 27, 2024 }} It was announced that 4 tanks, 5 artillery pieces/MLRS, 3 anti-tank vehicles were destroyed and 184 Syrian soldiers were killed between March 4–5 in Operation Spring Shield. According to Turkey's claims, 3,322 Syrian soldiers were neutralized between February 27 and March 5.{{Web source |url= https://tr.euronews.com/2020/03/05/rus-jetlerden-idlib-e-hava-sald-r-s-16-sivil-hayat-n-kaybetti |title= Russian jets launch airstrikes on Idlib: 16 civilians killed |accessdate= 5 March 2020 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20200406090418/https://tr.euronews.com/2020/03/05/rus-jetlerden-idlib-e-hava-sald-r-s-16-sivil-hayat-n-kaybetti |archivedate= 6 April 2020 }}

Middle East Institute think tank found that 405 Syrian government soldiers including 30 senior officers were killed in the week between February 27 and March 6. The institute’s report also noted that the Syrian army lost 73 tanks and armored vehicles, as well as a large number of anti-aircraft guns and artillery pieces. It was determined that the death toll suffered by the regime on the same front between March 1 and May 31 was more than 600. The report did not mention the number of wounded. New Lines Institute reported that it received information from sources close to the American government, and that as a result of the Turkish Armed Forces' attack, the Syrian Army lost 3 warplanes, 3 UAVs, 8 helicopters, 135 tanks, 86 artillery and MLRS, 77 armored vehicles, 9 ammunition depots, 5 air defense systems, and 16 anti-tank and mortar positions. It was also stated that an average of 60 regime soldiers were thought to have been killed per day between February 27 and March 5.{{Web source |url= https://newlinesinstitute.org/state-resilience-fragility/turkeys-high-stakes-in-northwest-syria/|date=12 March 2020 |title= Turkey’s High Stakes in Northwest Syria| website=New Lines Institute |accessdate= December 27, 2024|first=Charles|last=Lister|archive-date=16 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116051544/https://newlinesinstitute.org/state-resilience-fragility/turkeys-high-stakes-in-northwest-syria/|quote=In the space of a week, Turkey’s air campaign appears to have destroyed the following (I’m told that the U.S. government considers this information “more or less” accurate):3 fighter jets,3 aerial drones,8 helicopters,135 tanks,86 artillery and multiple rocket launch (MRL) systems,77 armored vehicles,9 arms depots,5 air defense systems,16 anti-tank guided missile and mortar positions.Perhaps more significant than weapons losses were the hundreds of pro-regime personnel killed in Turkey’s strikes – an average of 60 per day from Feb. 28 to March 5.}}

The OSINT Oryx Blog, in its research, found 37 tanks of the T-55, T-62 and T-72 models, 9 BMP-1 armored combat vehicles, 16 2S1 Gvozdika howitzers, 1 122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30) gun, 3 M-46 guns, 1 152-mm howitzer M1943 (D-1) gun, 6 2S3 Akatsiya howitzers, 8 BM-21 Grad MLRS, 1 122mm HM-20 MLRS, 2 x 122mm MRL MLRS, 2 160mm M160 mortars, 1 240mm M240 mortar, 4 ZSU-23-4 armored anti-aircraft vehicles, 2 ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns, 1 S-75 Dvina surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile system, 2 Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air anti-aircraft and artillery systems, 1 SNR-125 air defense radar, 2 Sukhoi Su-24 fighter jets, 1 Aero L-39 Albatros fighter jet and 21 different types of trucks were destroyed in the TSK attack.{{Web source |url= https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/02/the-idlib-turkey-shoot-destruction-and.html|date=2 March 2020 |title= The Idlib Turkey Shoot: The Destruction and Capture of Vehicles and Equipment by Turkish and Rebel Forces| website=Oryx Blog |accessdate= 14 March 2025 |archive-date=24 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250224093405/https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/02/the-idlib-turkey-shoot-destruction-and.html}}

Institute for the Study of War, Rand Corporation and many think tanks, primarily, stated that the operation carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces revolutionized modern warfare tactics and changed the balance of power in Syria.{{cite news | last1=Cafarella| first1=Jennifer| last2=Dunford| first2=John| last3=Land| first3=Michael | last4=Wallace| first4=Blane| title=Turkey Commits to Idlib| website=Institute for the Study of War | date=2020-03-18 | url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/turkey-commits-idlib | access-date=2024-12-25| archive-date=14 January 2025| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114050458/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/turkey-commits-idlib | quote= Turkey’s intervention in Idlib Province changed the military balance in northwest Syria... Turkey has compelled Russia to enter a new de-escalation agreement, but that agreement is unlikely to hold... Russia opted to de-escalate in Idlib in September 2018 after attempting but failing to compel Turkish-backed opposition groups to surrender...Turkey’s response indirectly but significantly weakened Russia’s military position in Idlib. The casualties and equipment losses badly depleted the ability of pro-regime forces to launch further offensives...Turkey’s targeting of regime aircraft and airbases also forced Russia to face even greater material and manpower costs to sustain an air campaign, either by expanding its own air campaign or offsetting the regime’s losses. Finally, Turkey’s targeting of the regime’s air force also delivered a significant morale victory for the Syrian opposition and the displaced Syrian populations who have suffered years of unmitigated aerial bombardment. }}{{cite web | last1 = Parachini | first1 = John V. | last2 = Wilson | first2 = Peter A. | url = https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2020/07/drone-era-warfare-shows-the-operational-limits-of-air.html | title = Drone-Era Warfare Shows the Operational Limits of Air Defense Systems | publisher = RAND Corporation | date = 2 July 2020 | quote = Many of the tactics, techniques, and procedures used to defeat SHORADS in Libya were tested during the Turkish military's brief 2020 winter campaign in Idlib Province during which Turkey destroyed Pantsir SHORAD and Buk-M1 medium-range SAM systems operated by the Assad Regime. | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231210155258/https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2020/07/drone-era-warfare-shows-the-operational-limits-of-air.html | archive-date = 10 December 2023}} The precision attacks carried out by the TSK with Koral electronic warfare systems and TB-2 and ANKA type armed UAV systems neutralized the air defense systems of the Assad Regime forces.{{cite news | last=Tanchum| first=Michaël | title= Turkey's In-between State of War and Peace with Russia | website=The Turkey Analyst| date=2020-03-25 | url=https://www.turkeyanalyst.org/publications/turkey-analyst-articles/item/636-turkeys-in-between-state-of-war-and-peace-with-russia.html | access-date=2024-12-25| quote= Employing its domestically-produced KORAL land-based transportable electronic warfare system that can create ghost images on enemy radar, Turkey was able to inflict an impressive amount of damage to Syrian as well as Russian military assets using its Bayraktar TB2 and Anka combat drones...Turkey's overriding interest to entrench its influence northern Syria compel Ankara to yield to Moscow and seek a new equilibrium somewhere between war and peace in Idlib. }}{{cite web | last= Kasapoglu | first= Can | title= Turkey’s Drone Blitz Over Idlib | publisher = Jamestown Foundation | date =17 April 2020| url = https://jamestown.org/program/turkeys-drone-blitz-over-idlib/ | access-date =14 March 2025| quote = While the Turkish Armed Forces scored a large number of kills on the Baathist regime’s combat units, the unmanned systems’ success in eliminating Syria’s Russian-manufactured surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems deserve the utmost attention. Within a week, Turkey’s UAVs destroyed a total of eight Pantsir and Buk air defenses | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250307013629/https://jamestown.org/program/turkeys-drone-blitz-over-idlib/ | archive-date = 7 March 2025}} The Turkish operation stopped the Syrian government desires to reclaim all Idlib.{{cite news | title= An uncertain future for Idlib as Assad is welcomed back to the international stage| website=The New Arab| date=2023-06-05 | url=https://www.newarab.com/analysis/uncertain-future-idlib-assad-normalised | access-date=2024-12-25| quote= The Syrian regime has expressed its desire to reclaim the (Idlib) province, but ever since a March 2020 offensive ended in a disastrous defeat at the hands of Turkey, the territory has not changed hands}} As a result of the TAF’s counterattack, the regime forces’ offensive capacity was eliminated.{{cite news | title=Turkey shoots down two Syrian warplanes, destroys armor, kills troops as conflict escalates| website=Washington Post| date=2020-03-01 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/turkey-shoots-down-two-syrian-warplanes-in-growing-conflict/2020/03/01/d0fd189a-5bbe-11ea-ac50-18701e14e06d_story.html | access-date=2024-12-25 | quote= Turkey shot down two warplanes and inflicted heavy losses on ground forces in northwestern Syria on Sunday as the two countries edged closer to an all-out war...The situation on the ground was fluid, and the progress of the Turkish-backed offensive was difficult to assess. But it appeared the Turkish intervention had succeeded in halting, and in some places reversing, weeks of Syrian government advances into the last enclave of rebel-held territory that have sent nearly a million people fleeing toward Turkey for safety. }}

Since the signing of the ceasefire in March 2020, the Syrian Air Force has not conducted any airstrikes within the de-escalation zone, and this status remains unchanged as of April 2023.{{cite news |date=20 April 2023 |title=منذ نحو 38 شهراً.. غياب تام لطائرات النظام الحربية والمروحية عن أجواء منطقة "بوتين-أردوغان" |trans-title=For nearly 38 months, regime warplanes and helicopters have been completely absent from the skies of the "Putin-Erdogan" region. |url=https://www.syriahr.com/%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B0-%D9%86%D8%AD%D9%88-38-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85/602967/ |access-date=24 July 2023 |publisher=SOHR |language=Arabic}}

Fukuyama stated that Turkey has made a revolution in the military use of drones and caused a change in modern military tactics.{{cite news |title= Turkey drone success has ‘elevated’ it in the world, says Fukuyama

|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210413-turkey-drone-success-has-elevated-it-in-the-world-says-fukuyama/ |access-date=9 January 2025 |publisher=Middle East Monitor |date=13 April 2021 }}

• Syrian–Turkish border clashes during the Syrian Civil War
• Operation Peace Spring
• Operation Olive Branch
• Operation Euphrates Shield
• List of wars involving Turkey

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Syrian Civil War}}

Spring Shield

Category:Drone warfare

Spring Shield

Category:January 2020 in Syria

Category:February 2020 in Syria

Category:March 2020 in Syria

Category:2020 in Turkey

Category:2020 in Syria

Spring Shield

Category:Idlib Governorate in the Syrian civil war

Spring Shield

Category:Latakia Governorate in the Syrian civil war

Category:Aleppo Governorate in the Syrian civil war

Category:Hama Governorate in the Syrian civil war

Category:Bayraktar TB2