Live Updates: Turkey Conducts Offensive in Syria for 5th Day Amid Growing Pushback
Ankara is pressing forward with its military operation in northern Syria despite harsh criticism from the EU, the United States and the Arab League, who are considering possible sanctions and diplomatic measures against the country.
The Turkish military and local fighters supported by Ankara continue to move ahead with “Operation Peace Spring” in Syria, aimed against the Daesh* terrorist group and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). A day earlier saw battles in the border city of Ras al-Ayn, as both Turkey and the SDF claimed they had gained control over its centre. According to Ankara, its forces have neutralised 415 militants since the start of the op.
The ground offensive was announced earlier this week by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who vowed to continue it despite major pushback from the EU, the US, and Arab States.
According to his Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the op was launched under Article 51 of the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolutions regarding the fight against terrorism because Turkey considers the Kurdish troops to be affiliated with Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that Ankara has blacklisted as a terror organisation.
Damascus, however, stressed that the operation is another violation of Syria’s sovereignty. The Arab League also opposed Ankara on the issue and is considering halting military cooperation and lowering of diplomatic ties with Turkey. At the same time, France and Germany have already halted arms exports to Ankara, urging the Middle Eastern country to stop the offensive.
Russian Military Warns Daesh Terrorists May Flee SDF Detention Amid Turkey’s Operation
Daesh (IS, ISIS banned in Russia) terrorists, who are held at seven prisons controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), may flee the detention facilities amid Turkey’s offensive in northern Syria, provoking a sharp escalation of the situation in the entire Middle East, Maj. Gen. Alexey Bakin, head of the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation said on Sunday.
According to the official’s data, SDF guards seven Daesh prisons and at least eight camps housing temporarily displaced persons, including terrorist families.
“The possible exit of terrorists from detention can provoke a sharp deterioration of the situation in the entire Middle East region. All parties to the Syrian settlement must take measures to prevent this scenario,” Bakin said.
The official also estimates that lives of at least 120,000 people, who are staying at eight SDF-controlled camps for temporarily displaced persons in northern Syria, are at risk amid the Turkish offensive.
US Army Leaves Ain Issa Area in Syria
A Sputnik correspondent has reported that the US Army has temporarily left the Ain Issa area east of Tell Abiad because of the Turkish offensive against Kurdish groups in north-eastern Syria. The troops were withdrawn in order to avoid coming under Turkish fire. According to the reporter, the troops were evacuated to military bases in the Syrian province of Raqqa.
The United States has also evacuated its military base in Jalabiya in the Syrian province of Raqqa, Syrian state TV reported.
20:17 French President Macron Says He Made it Clear to Erdogan, Trump That Turkish Operation in Syria ‘Must Stop'”We have a common desire that this offensive ends”, Emmanuel Macron said, standing alongside Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel. “This offensive risks creating an unsustainable humanitarian situation and help Daesh re-emerge in the region”.
20:16 Syrian Army Begins to Move Troops to Face ‘Turkish Army Aggression’ in Northern Syria
19:47Erdogan Says Turkey Has No Problems With Russia on Situation in Syria, Maintains Constant Contact With Putin”The Sochi Agreement [with the Russian Federation on Syria’s Idlib] is being successfully implemented as a result of our meetings in Tehran and Ankara. We are not talking about any problems with Russia. We are in touch with President Putin. If there is a question, we can negotiate and accept within 24 hours a joint decision on the steps to be taken”, Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul, as quoted by Anadolu.
19:13Reports of Daesh Prisoners Escaping Are ‘Disinformation’ – Erdogan”They continuously broadcast disinformation about Daesh terrorists having fled the prison. They do it to incite the United States and the West. The leaders with whom I am in touch ask me about it all the time”, Erdogan said at a press encounter in Istanbul.The camp, located seven miles south of the Turkish border, is home to 7,000 displaced persons, among whom 785 are suspected members of Daesh. On Friday, the Kurdish administration announced plans to evacuate the camp’s residents and move them to al-Arisha camp, south of the city of Hassakah.
18:53Syrian Army Will Enter SDF-Held Town of Ain Arab and Manbij in 48 Hours – Lebanese Broadcaster
17:58Erdogan Says 18 Civilians Killed in Shelling of Turkish Settlements Near Border With Syria”The total number of terrorists that have been neutralised during Operation Peace Spring is 490, of them 440 were killed. The near-border settlements of Turkey have been targeted by mortar and rocket attacks from Syria 652 times. During the shelling of our towns by terrorists, 18 civilians have been killed and 147 injured”, Erdogan said in a television statement to the NTV broadcaster.Two Turkish servicemen and 16 militants with the opposition Syrian National Army were killed during the military operation, Erdogan added.
15:55Merkel Urges Erdogan to Immediately End Turkey’s Offensive in SyriaIn a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel “spoke in favour of an immediate end to the military operation”, her office said in a statement.
15:52Ankara Says it Has Taken Control of Major Highway in Northern Syria After Battles With Kurdish ForcesTurkish forces have seized control of Syria’s M4 highway, some 30-35 kilometres (19-22 miles) inside Syrian territory, as part of their offensive against Kurdish militants in north-eastern Syria, Turkey’s Defence Ministry said on Twitter.
15:46Washington Says Reports of Female Kurdish Politician Being Killed in Northeast Syria ‘Extremely Troubling'”We find these reports to be extremely troubling, reflecting the overall destabilisation of northeast Syria since the commencement of hostilities on Tuesday”, a State Department spokesman said in a comment. The official added that Washington denounces any abuse and extrajudicial execution of civilians or prisoners, and is looking further into the circumstances of the incident.Kurdish Female Leader Ambushed and Killed in Syria Amid Turkish Offensive – Report14:21 13.10.2019Ankara’s forces and its allied fighters have been moving ahead with an operation in Syria targeting Daesh* and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) despite criticism from the EU, the US, and the Arab League. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 38 civilians have been killed since the fighting started five days ago.
15:42US President Orders American Troops to Relocate in Syria Amid Turkish Offensive – Pentagon ChiefUS Defence Secretary Mark Esper stated that Donald Trump has ordered US forces in Syria to move south of Turkey’s attacks against Kurdish forces, but not to leave the country.Washington Says Reports of Killing of Kurdish Politician in Northeast Syria ‘Extremely Troubling’US to Pull About 1,000 Troops From Syria’s North Due to Turkish Offensive – Pentagon16:00 13.10.2019The Pentagon earlier confirmed that some Turkish shelling near the city of Kobani in northern Syria was in close proximity to American troops stationed at an observation post there. Washington insists that Ankara was aware of where its troops were located, while Turkey insists that it never intended to attack American forces.
14:45Turkish Offensive to Go 30-35 Kilometres into Syrian Territory – ErdoganTurkish forces have seized control of Syria’s M4 highway, some 30-35 kilometres (19-22 miles) inside Syrian territory, as part of their offensive against Kurdish militants in north-eastern Syria, Turkey’s Defence Ministry said on Twitter.
14:22Kurdish Fighters Say 800 Daesh Terrorists Have Escaped From CampAccording to the Kurdish administration in northern Syria, several “mercenaries” (which could mean Turkish-backed militants) attacked the facility, while “Daesh elements” assaulted the guards and left the camp.
13:09Turkish Army Enters Syria’s Tell Abiad, Clashes With Kurdish Self-Defence Forces – ReportsAccording to recent reports, Turkish troops, backed by Free Syrian Army (FAS) militants, have entered the city. At the same time, Turkish artillery is firing on Kurdish self-defence fighters.
12:13Video From Syrian Border Amid Turkish Military Operation Against SDFVideo From Syrian Border Amid Turkish Military Operation Against SDF12:12 13.10.2019During the previous day of battles, the Turkish military and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) clashed in the city of Ras al-Ayn. The militants claim they have hit 7 tanks and killed 75 soldiers, while Turkey claimes that it has neutralised 415 SDF fighters since the start of the
10:32Turkish Forces Seize City of Suluk in Raqqa – ReportsAccording to Syrian broadcaster Ikhbariya, on Sunday Turkey occupied the border city of Suluk, which is located in the northeastern part of Raqqa Governorate.
10:21Erdogan Tells UK PM Johnson Ankara to Continue Offensive Until Removal of Daesh and PKK Threats”Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held a telephone conversation with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The president told Johnson about the goals of Operation Peace Spring and said that it would continue until the terrorist threat posed by the PKK — Syrian Kurds’ self-defence forces — and the IS [Daesh] in northern Syria is completely eliminated, allowing the voluntary and safe return of Syrian refugees”, the official statement read.
10:00Kurdish-led SDF Says Killed 75 Turkish Soldiers, Destroyed 7 Tanks in Ras al-Ayn – ReportsAccording to the Firat news agency, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said that they had attacked the Turkish Army in the Syrian city of Ras al-Ayn, leaving 75 soldiers dead and seven tanks destroyed, while 19 more Turkish troops were injured.
