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Turkish Peace Operations in Syria (Operation Olive Branch) Updates & Discussions

Title of this thread should be changed, Euphrates Shield ended a long time ago.

Note: Might be irrelevant to this current topic, however, Iraq PMU and Hashdi Shaabi are preparing to invade Kirkuk.
 
Thread for keeping track of the developments regarding the TSK operations to Idlib and related issues....

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Turkish military starts setting up observation points in Syria’s Idlib

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Turkish forces that entered Syria's Idlib province late on Thursday have started setting up observation positions, a senior Syrian opposition official involved in the operation said early on Friday.

"The allied Turkish armed forces have entered Syrian territory and begun setting up observation posts," said Mustafa Sejari, an official in a Free Syrian Army (FSA) opposition group.

Turkey sent a convoy of about 30 military vehicles into opposition-held northwest Syria through the Bab al-Hawa crossing in Idlib, rebels and a witness said.

President Tayyip Erdoğan announced the deployment on Saturday, saying Turkey was conducting a "serious operation" with the FSA, as part of a "de-escalation" deal it agreed last month with Iran and Russia in Kazakhstan.

The Astana agreement with Assad's foreign allies Russia and Iran involves reducing warfare in several regions of Syria, including Idlib and adjacent swathes of the northwest, the most populous opposition-held area.

The convoy was heading towards Sheikh Barakat, a high area overlooking opposition-held territory and the canton of Afrin - which is controlled by the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the PKK affiliate in Syria, and its People's Protection Units (YPG) militia, the witnesses said.

"(Turkey's deployment is) in line with Astana 6 resolutions to ensure the area is protected from Russian and regime bombing and to foil any attempt by the separatist YPG militias to illegally seize any territory," said Sejari

The operation is the second time in over a year that the Turkish military has crossed into Syria. The first, Operation Euphrates Shield, was launched on Aug. 24, 2016, in collaboration with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and helped liberate several Daesh strongholds, such as Jarablus, Dabiq, al-Rai and al-Bab.

In the operation, a staggering blow was dealt to Daesh, and more than 2,000 square kilometers in northern Syria were seized. More than 100,000 Syrian refugees returned to their hometowns in liberated areas.

https://www.dailysabah.com/war-on-t...setting-up-observation-points-in-syrias-idlib
 
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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41607822

Turkish army’s multi-faceted security mission in Idlib

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The deployment will continue along the border of Idlib and Afrin, under rules of engagement agreed to in May among guarantor countries Turkey, Iran and Russia. Ankara backs groups opposed to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, while Russia and Iran support Assad’s regime.

Turkish armed forces will eventually set up observation posts in more than 10 areas, beginning in northern Idlib and gradually extending to the southern part of the province.

The mission, which is being carried out in cooperation with the Free Syrian Army, aims to monitor the cease-fire in Idlib, while Russia will set up observation posts outside the province for the same purpose.

Halting refugee influx

The Turkish troop deployment also aims to create the necessary conditions to maintain the cease-fire between the Syrian regime and opposition groups, end conflicts, allow humanitarian aid to reach those who need it, and ensure the return of displaced persons to their homes.

It also aims to prevent a fresh influx of Syrian refugees into Turkey.

There were concerns that the Assad regime, backed by Iran and Russia, would launch more attacks in Idlib if the cease-fire failed to hold. In such a case, it was feared that millions of people might flood across the border into Turkey.

More than 1 million people are already living in camps near the border between Turkey and Syria.

The Turkish deployment also aims to provide safe shelter for civilians.

By deploying forces, Turkey will also be establishing a security barrier to prevent the spread of the PKK/PYD, which is currently controlling Afrin.

The terrorist organization, which has occupied Afrin since 2011, needs to establish control over parts of Idlib in order to secure a corridor from the Iraqi border to the Mediterranean.

Idlib

Idlib, which is located in northwestern Syria on the Turkish border, faced intense attacks by the Assad regime after a vicious civil war broke out in 2011.

After March 2015, Idlib was no longer under the control of the Assad regime and was dominated by military opposition groups and anti-regime armed organizations.

With a previous population of around 2.5 million, the city is now crammed with about 4 million people, following the arrival of civilians who fled violence in central Syria.

The most effective military opposition groups in Idlib, Ahrar al-Sham and Tahrir al-Sham, both withdrew from the city nearly three months ago. Idlib is currently governed by a local council headed by civilians.
The Syrian Interim Government provides the services that the council offers the public.

There are no armed groups or organizations in the city; rather, these elements are currently based in rural areas and checkpoints set up around the city.

In recent months, the influence of Tahrir al-Sham has increased in the area. There are also many local groups in Idlib operating under the umbrella of the Free Syrian Army.

During recent peace talks in Kazakh capital Astana, the three guarantor countries agreed to establish de-escalation zones in Idlib and in parts of the Aleppo, Latakia and Hama provinces.

http://aa.com.tr/en/top-headline/turkish-army-s-multi-faceted-security-mission-in-idlib/934766
 

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