Operation Peace Spring


 * ''See also Turkish military incursion into Syria and Operation Euphrates Shield

Operation Peace Spring is the name of a Turkish military operation inside northern Syria. Following renewed threats by Erdogan to "do it alone" if the installation of a "safe zone" along the border wouldn't speed up, and a phone call between him and Trump, the White House announced that the US military would withdraw from the border in anticipation of a Turkish "intervention". Two days later, on October 9, 2019, the operation began.

Objectives



 * Turkey has multiphase game plan for Syria operation - Metin Gurcan, Al Monitor, October 10, 2019

ISIS

 * ISIS has a plan to bust out 70,000 supporters from Kurdish jails now that the US has abandoned the area to the Turkish military - Business Insider, October 10, 2019

International reactions
Government officials from a large number of countries have expressed concern and/or criticism over the operation, among them Syria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Armenia, Algeria, China, France, Germany, Italy, Czechia, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Australia, Canada and EU representatives (12).

In return Erdogan lashed out at Saudi Arabia and UAE telling them that given their atrocities in Yemen they are in no position to "defame" Turkey. Addressing Europe he threatened to "send 3.6 million refugees" if they don't stop to call the operation an invasion.

On request of Britain, France, Germany, Belgium and Poland the UNSC met in close round on the morning of October 10. The five countries released a joint statement calling on Turkey to stop its military action. No joint UNSC statement was released because the US and Russia opposed the wording "condemnation". On October 11, Russia blocked US-drafted UN statement on Turkish operation.

In a phone call initiated by Erdogan on October 13, German chancellor Angela Merkel demands an immediate end of the military operation. At a joined press conference with Macron in the evening, the two repeat the demand.

October 9
At around 4 pm Erdogan announces that the operation has begun. In the following hours essentially all larger cities and many villages along the border are attacked by warplanes. Targets include a prison near Qamishli where ISIS fighters are detained, according to the SDF with the goal to help them escape. According to the Turkish military, 181 "terrorist facilities" have been hit and 109 "terrorists" killed. According to the Rojava Information Center, 10 civilans died and 15 were wounded.

In the night, ground operations most prominently in Ras Al-Ayn start with the help of proxy militias like the newly dubbed "Syrian National Army", Turkish-controlled remnants of the Free Syrian Army who had been carried in buses and ratmobiles from Idlib, Afrin and the "Euphrates Shield" region to Akcakale and Ceylanpinar on the Turkish side of the border in recent days. (See also: "TFSA" on Wikipedia).

October 10
According to regional observers, between 60-100 thousand civilians have fled the border cities in the first 24 hours of the attacks. Under constant aerial bombardment the SDF retreated from several towns and villages and the Turkish proxy forces advanced in rural areas around both Tel Abyad and Ras Al-Ayn, apparently in an attempt to isolate the cities. They also cut an important road near Ras Al-Ayn. The Turkish military claims that several civilians were killed by mortar and rocket fire on Turkish soil by Kurdish "terrorists hiding in schools and hospitals".

October 11
According to a report by pro-Kurdish Firat News Agency released in the morning, fighting in Ras Al-Ayn (Kurdish name Serêkaniyê) is happening on fronts in all four directions, meaning the city seems to be surrounded.

An SDF "balance sheet" claims that in the first 48 hours of the operation, 16 of their fighters were "martyred", while the losses of the other side are given as 262. The Turkish military claims that the number of "neutralized" (meaning killed, captured or surrendered) "terrorists" is 342. Own losses are not mentioned.

Whether intended or not, Turkish projectiles have hit two prisons near Qamishli with ISIS fighters in them, of which five were able to escape, and some US special forces near Kobane.

October 12
The Turkish military claims to have taken Ras Al-Ayn in the morning, assisted by their proxies (1, 2, 3). An ANF correspondent reports from the city center that this isn't true and clashes are going on while the Turkish airforce heavily bombards suburbs and has hit the hospital. Other journalists seems to corroborate him.

At Tel Abyad the Turkish proxies have taken more villages around the town while the SDF brought reinforcements and started a counter-offensive.

Further east, the M4 highway seems to have been briefly blocked and then secured again.

The SDF's October 11 report states that on that day 118 attackers died and 90 were injured, while 23 of their own died and 30 were injured.

October 13
Several Western journalists report about Turkish proxy militias putting up checkpoints on the M4 highway and committing atrocities. Later, video surfaces (GRAPHIC) of a convoy of journalists and their bodyguards being bombed from the air. Another video seems to suggest that this happened in the center of Ras Al-Ayn. ANHA News agency reports that one of their correspondents died in the attack and another was injured. They also name three other journalists injured in the attack. The toal of victims is given as 11 civilians dead and 74 injured.

In the afternoon, Turkish loyalists claim that Tel Abyad has been taken, which seems to be corroborated by released pictures.

The NYT reports about Turkish bombing of Ain Issa which led to a mass panic in a refugee camp and the fleeing of scores of inhabitants including 700 ISIS family members. The US forces in the town are retreating. According to the UN, there are now 130,000 people fleeing due to the operation.

The SDF "balance sheet" for October 12 has 87 attackers dead and 32 injured, while their own losses are given as 31 dead and 36 injured.

Late in the day, starting with an al Mayadeen report, rumours start to spread about an agreement having been reached between the SDF and SAA and soon to begin movements of the SAA north.

TASS quotes Al Mayadeen saying that Kurds let SAA through to enter Manbij, and an agreement is reached to enter Kobani. While SANA, also quoted, reports SAA troop movement "to the North"

Analysis

 * SYRIA: Turkey, the Kurds and NATO explained - Vanessa Beeley, The Wall Will Fall, October 10, 2019
 * Peace Spring Op: Kurds Found Themselves in Dire Straits, New 'Safe Zone' Sparks Concerns - Observers - Ekaterina Blinova, Sputnik, October 11, 2019
 * How far will Turkey go with its invasion of Syrian Kurdistan? - Paul Iddon, Rudaw, October 11, 2019
 * Krieg gegen Kurden - Angriff der Türkei in Syrien - Karin Leukefeld, weltnetz.tv, October 11, 2019 (German language video interview, 41 minutes)
 * A Turkish-Russian entente cordiale in the making - M. K. BHADRAKUMAR, October 12, 2019