turkeys offensive in syria a timeline
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today
Egypt Today, egypt today
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today

Turkey's offensive in Syria: a timeline

Egypt Today, egypt today

Egypt Today, egypt today Turkey's offensive in Syria: a timeline

Turkey's army launched a major air and ground operation in northern Syria
Istanbul - Egypt Today

Turkey's army launched a major air and ground operation in northern Syria on the weekend in a bid to oust a US-allied Kurdish militia that it considers a terror group.

The offensive follows an announcement by a US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group that it is working to create a 30,000-strong border security force in northern Syria.

Around half of that force would be retrained fighters from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which is mainly made up of fighters from Kurdish militia the People's Protection Units (YPG).

Here is a timeline:

- Major incursion -

On Saturday Turkey launches operation "Olive Branch" into Syria intending to oust the YPG militia from its enclave of Afrin.

War planes and artillery back a major ground incursion undertaken with Ankara-backed Syrian rebels.

Turkey considers the YPG to be a "terrorist" group as well as the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which has waged a bloody three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state.

Ankara says it informed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in writing of its offensive; this is denied by Damascus which says its air force will shoot down any Turkish warplanes entering its airspace.

Assad ally Russia urges restraint and withdraws troops from the zone in question "to prevent potential provocation".

The Kurdish militia say they will hold Russia as well as Turkey responsible for the attacks.

- 'Legitimate' concerns -

On Sunday Turkish tanks and soldiers enter the region of Afrin. Official media say that Ankara's forces have penetrated five kilometres (three miles) into Syria.

The US State Department calls on Turkey to "exercise restraint". But Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says Ankara has "legitimate" security concerns and had given Washington advance warning of the operation.

France calls for a UN Security Council meeting and calls on Turkey to end its offensive. Iran expresses concern and Syria's Assad condemns the operation.

Turkish police prevent protests against the operation in Istanbul and Diyarbakir, a Kurdish stronghold in Turkey's southeast.

- 'No step back' -

On Monday Turkish soldiers and their Syrian allies launch a new attack on the Kurdish militia from Azaz, about 20 kilometres to the east of Afrin.

"We will take no step back. We spoke about this with our Russian friends. We have an agreement," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says.

Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek says the operation will be short. Ankara says it aims to create a security zone within 30 kilometres of the border.

The Kremlin says it is watching developments attentively and is in contact with Damascus and Ankara.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urges restraint on all sides. But he also says Turkey has a "legitimate right to protect its own citizens from terrorist elements that may be launching attacks against Turkish citizens on Turkish soil from Syria".

The Kurdish forces say Turkey's operation amounts to supporting IS and urge their Western allies to act.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 21 civilians -- including six children -- have been killed in the operation. Ankara says it has only hit "terrorists".

Source:AFP

egypttoday
egypttoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

turkeys offensive in syria a timeline turkeys offensive in syria a timeline



GMT 18:26 2018 Friday ,14 December

Mashrou’ Leila headline Apple event in Dubai

GMT 13:29 2018 Friday ,14 December

Turkey targets military over alleged Gulen links

GMT 14:29 2016 Tuesday ,20 December

Marc Anthony divorcing Venezuelan model wife

GMT 17:29 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Bollywood star urges Davos set to fight sexism

GMT 15:56 2018 Sunday ,07 January

From obscurity to superstar status, Coutinho's rise

GMT 10:08 2017 Friday ,24 March

Brazil on brink, Messi revives Argentina

GMT 20:26 2011 Thursday ,25 August

The Shah: A poisonous legacy that haunts Iran

GMT 22:03 2017 Tuesday ,19 December

Marie Moatti leaves Hermès

GMT 07:46 2017 Thursday ,14 September

Al Shamri calls for supporting the banks

GMT 19:37 2017 Sunday ,02 April

Iraqi PM stresses government's quest for reform

GMT 07:58 2017 Monday ,20 November

Honda recalls 800,000 minivans over faulty seats

GMT 16:10 2018 Friday ,14 December

Bahrain press headlines For 14 Dec 2018

GMT 10:42 2018 Monday ,03 December

Abbas arrives in Rome to counteract Israeli policy

GMT 11:20 2018 Sunday ,07 October

Index begins week’s trading in decline

GMT 10:39 2017 Sunday ,20 August

Alexandria governor Mohamed Sultan in Shanghai

GMT 13:33 2013 Friday ,04 January

Skyfall gives the ‘Golden Eye’ to Oscar glory

GMT 16:30 2011 Sunday ,11 December

Jumeirah appointed to manage luxury Rome hotel

GMT 14:57 2011 Friday ,24 June

Michelle Obama visits AIDS clinic in Botswana

GMT 19:11 2011 Saturday ,16 April

Cuba to celebrate 50 years since Bay of Pigs

GMT 18:32 2017 Monday ,28 August

UAE CP receives Guinean president
 
 Egypt Today Facebook,egypt today facebook  Egypt Today Twitter,egypt today twitter Egypt Today Rss,egypt today rss  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
egypttoday, Egypttoday, Egypttoday