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The '''2019 Syrian-Turkish clashes''' were an armed military confrontation between the [[Syrian armed forces]] and the [[Turkish army]] during an [[Northwestern Syria offensive (April 2019–present)|offensive]] launched by the Syrian government in April 2019.
== Background ==
{{Main|Turkish military operation in Idlib Governorate|Turkish occupation of northern Syria}}
Turkey is one of the major backers of the [[Syrian opposition]], providing political, materiel and armament support to various rebel groups during the [[Syrian Civil War]]. Furthermore, the [[Turkish Armed Forces]] and the [[Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army]] (TFSA) have [[Turkish occupation of northern Syria|occupied areas of northern Syria]]. Syria views this as a gross encroachment on it's [[National Sovereignty|national sovereignty]] and [[territorial integrity]]. Because of this, [[Syria–Turkey relations|relations between the two countries]] have been incredibly hostile and strained, sometimes boiling into armed confrontation. The two nations severed [[Diplomatic Relations|diplomatic relations]] at the start of the civil war.
Turkey has set up and maintained a network of observation posts within the rebel-held region of [[Idlib Governorate|Idlib]] since late 2017, which it has gradually expanded and increased in number.
The [[Syrian Government]] has preferred to work with groups vehemently opposed by Turkey, such as the [[Syrian Democratic Forces]] (SDF), in an attempt to limit Turkish influence in Syria. Pro-government forces fought on the side of the SDF during the [[Turkish military operation in Afrin]], while the Syrian Army fought alongside the SDF against Turkey and the TFSA during the [[2019 Tell Rifaat clashes]].
==Timeline==
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On 14 June, following continued standoffs between Turkey and Syria, the Turkish military deployed reinforcements to its positions in Idlib.<ref>https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkey-retaliates-against-regime-attack-in-syrias-idlib/1505501#</ref>
On 16 June, the Turkish government claimed that the Syrian military had continued to attack Turkish positions, with Turkey
=== Syrian jets strike Turkish convoy ===
On 19 August,
=== Syrian army surrounds Turkish observation post ===
On 23 August, following the capture of a rebel pocket in the region, the [[Syrian Army]] fully [[Encirclement|encircled]] the Turkish observation post at [[Murak, Syria|Murak]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1869021/syrian-regime-forces-surround-turkish-army-post|title=Syrian Regime Forces Surround Turkish Army Post|website=Asharq AL-awsat|language=en|access-date=2019-08-24}}</ref> Turkish Foreign Minister [[Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu]] denied that the observation post had been placed in a state of [[siege]] and insisted that the [[Turkish Armed Forces]] would not withdraw from it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ZeinakhodrAljaz/status/1164856665591689223|title=#Turkey FM: we don't have troops under siege ... there was fighting close to our position ... our soldiers are not besieged ... #Morek #Idlib - we will not leave our observation post|last=Khodr|first=Zeina|date=2019-08-23|website=@ZeinakhodrAljaz|language=en|access-date=2019-08-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkey-not-withdrawing-from-observation-post-despite-encirclement/|title=Turkey not withdrawing from observation post despite encirclement|last=Desk|first=News|date=2019-08-22|website=AMN - Al-Masdar News {{!}} المصدر نيوز|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-24}}</ref>
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