Operation Olive Branch
Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch, the military operation against the Kurd-administered enclave of Efrin (or Afrin) in northern Syria, on January 20, 2018.
Turkey says the operation aims to “neutralize the terrorists belonging to PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG” as well as Islamic State in northwestern Syria. There is no known ISIS presence in the area.
Turkey views the predominantly Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and its linked Democratic Union Party (PYD) political party which together control Efrin as extensions of Turkey’s Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has fought a decades-long insurgency mainly in Turkey’s majority-Kurdish southwest.
The YPG makes up the backbone of the U.S.-led Coalition backed Syrian Democratic Forces, the main U.S. ally fighting ISIS in Syria.
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Feb- 2018 -12 FebruaryMiddle East
SDF claims it shot down a Turkish Bayraktar drone that crashed in Efrin
The Syrian Democratic Forces claimed its fighters shot down a Turkish Bayraktar Tactical drone that crashed near Quda, a small town in the Rajo district of Efrin near the Syria-Turkey border.
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11 FebruaryMiddle East
Syrian Kurds say Russia gave Turkey the green light to bomb Efrin after Coalition strikes in Deir Ezzor
Syrian Kurds suspect that the US response to an apparent attempt by Syrian government forces to take an oil field from the SDF played a role in Russia giving Turkey the green light to resume airstrikes on the Kurdish enclave of Afrin
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10 FebruaryMiddle East
Turkish T129 ATAK helicopter shot down near Efrin-Turkey border
Kurd-led forces shot down one of a pair of Turkish T129 ATAK helicopters operating in the Rajo district of Efrin in Syria.
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2 FebruaryCommentary
SDF defeated ISIS in northern Syria – the US and its allies should support them in Afrin
The world made the right choice when it stood with the SDF in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor. It is not too late for the United States to stand with Afrin.
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Jan- 2018 -31 JanuaryCommentary
The bankruptcy of American and Coalition diplomacy in Syria and Iraq
US decisions to arm the Kurds in Syria and Iraq at the expense of relations with Turkey and Iraq is another sign of waning influence
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31 JanuaryMiddle East
Syriac Military Council plans imminent deployment to defend “our democratic project” in Efrin
Syriac Military Council (MFS) fighters will leave Hasakah to defend northern Syria's Afrin against Turkish incursion
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30 JanuaryMiddle East
Turkey confirms use of German Leopard tanks in Efrin operation
Turkey confirmed it used German Leopard 2 tanks in the operation in Syria's Efrin, according to a report from the German economic ministry
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28 JanuaryMiddle East
Syrian Kurds ask regime to shoot down Turkish jets to save civilians in Efrin
The local administration in Afrin called on the Syrian government to shoot down Turkish jets to protect civilians in the Kurdish enclave
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25 JanuaryCommentary
Will Turkey attack Manbij?
Experts discuss whether Turkey's Operation Olive Branch incursion into Syria's Afrin will also target Manbij
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25 JanuaryEurope
Germany postpones tank upgrade plans with Turkey after Leopards spotted in Efrin offensive
Germany has decided to postpone plans to upgrade Turkish military tanks after they were spotted in Operation Olive Branch in Efrin, Syria
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