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 begun.

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.

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".

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.

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. 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.

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