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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Jan- 2018 -23 JanuaryMiddle East
Coalition says it does not support Turkey’s “unilateral” action in Efrin
The U.S.-led Coalition said it does not support Turkey's action in Syria and is committed to supporting the SDF in the fight against ISIS
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23 JanuaryMiddle East
Qatar backs Turkey’s military action against Kurds in northern Syria
Qatar has backed Operation Olive Branch, Turkey's offensive against Kurdish-held Efrin in Syria, defending one of its closest allies
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22 JanuaryMiddle East
Turkey and Russia are in agreement on Efrin operation – Erdogan
Russia is in agreement with Turkey over the operation in Syria's Efrin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said
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20 JanuaryMiddle East
Turkish ground offensive in Syria to begin on Sunday, PM Yildirim says
Turkey's prime minister Binali Yildirim said on Saturday that a Turkish ground offensive in Efrin, Syria was likely to begin on Sunday
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20 JanuaryAir
Turkey conducts first airstrikes against Efrin in Syria after Russia withdraws troops
Turkey launched heavy airstrikes on the city of Efrin in an operation dubbed ‘Operation Olive Branch’ after Russian troops withdrew
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