The 2019 Syrian-Turkish clashes were an armed military confrontation between the Syrian armed forces and the Turkish army during an offensive launched by the Syrian government in April 2019.
| 2019 Syrian-Turkish clashes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Northwestern Syria offensive (April 2019–present) of the Syrian Civil War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 SyriaSupported by:  Russia |
 Turkey | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown[4] |
1 killed 3 injured | ||||||
Timeline
On 13 June 2019, during an ongoing offensive by the Syrian government against rebels in Idlib and Hama, the Turkish military reported that its observation forces stationed in the area as part of demilitarization agreement between Russia, Turkey and Iran came under fire from pro-government forces.
The Turkish minister of defense stated that in the attack, the Syrian military fired 35 mortar shells and that 3 Turkish soldiers were injured as a result. Afterwards the Russian government claimed that a cease-fire had been established between Turkey, Russia, the rebels and the Syrian government, however the rebels and Turkish government denied a cease-fire had been implemented.[5]
Following the incidents Turkey's foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated the attacks were intentional, the Turkish government also stated the Turkish military would retaliate to any attacks on their positions in Syria.[6]
After the response from the Turkish government and the confrontation with the Syrian military, the Russia denied the Syrian government was involved in the attacks, blaming the Syrian rebels instead calling them "terrorists", and accused the rebels of attacking Turkish positions, the Russian government also claimed that the Turkish government had asked the Russian military for help in protecting Turkish forces in Idlib and that the Turkish government had given the coordinates of rebel positions to the Russian military, which was denied by Turkey.[7][8]
On 14 June, following continued standoffs between Turkey and Syria, the Turkish military deployed reinforcements to its positions in Idlib.[9]
On 16 June, the Turkish government claimed that the Syrian military had continued to attack Turkish positions, Turkey retaliated by firing artillery at Syrian government forces.[10][11]
Syrian jets strike Turkish convoy
On 19 August, the Syrian Army, began its assault on Khan Shaykhun,a rebel stronghold in Idlib Governorate. A 28-vehicle Turkish military convoy headed towards Khan Shaykhun through the M5 highway was targeted by Syrian warplanes multiple times. The airstrikes resulted in casualties among the rebel forces that were accompanying the convoy, reportedly killing a Faylaq al-Sham commander.[12][13] The convoy was halted as a result of the airstrikes.[14][15] The Turkish Defence ministry condemned the airstrike, stating that they viewed it as a violation of Russian-Turkish memorandum and that the convoy had only been transporting supplies to the Turkish observation posts in Idlib. Syria rejected the Turkish statement, claiming that the convoy had been carrying weapons and ammunition bound for various rebel groups engaged in battle with the government.[16][17]
Syrian army surrounds observation post
On 23 August, following the capture of a rebel pocket in the region, the Syrian Army fully encircled the Turkish observation post at Murak.[18] 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.[19][20]
See also
References
- ^ Desk, News (2019-08-19). "The regime forces advance north Khan Shaykhun and close Damascus – Aleppo International highway after violent clashes against the rebel factions and Jihadi groups". SOHR. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Desk, News (2019-08-19). "Syrian Army scores new gains north of Khan Sheikhoun". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "قوات النظام تتوغل بكامل أحياء خان شيخون وتطبق حصارها على ريف حماة الشمالي ونقطة المراقبة التركية في مدينة مورك شمال حماة". SOHR. 2019-08-21. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
- ^ Attacks on Turkish observation post in Syria's Idlib kill soldier: ministry
- ^ https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/turkey-syrian-forces-hit-observation-tower-syria-idlib-190613075813748.html
- ^ http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-says-syrian-government-forces-attacked-its-observation-point-144148
- ^ https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-security-northwest-russia-idUKKCN1TE1QG
- ^ https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkey-asks-russia-for-help-after-its-troops-come-under-heavy-fire-in-idlib/
- ^ https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkey-retaliates-against-regime-attack-in-syrias-idlib/1505501#
- ^ https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkey-retaliates-against-regime-attack-in-syrias-idlib/1505501
- ^ https://in.reuters.com/article/syria-security-turkey-idINKCN1TH05N
- ^ Agency, Step News (2019-08-19). "الطيران الحربي يستهدف السيارات المرافقة للرتل التركي بالرشاشات في معرة النعمان على الطريق الدولي بريف #إدلب مما أدى لمقتل عنصر من قوات المعارضة". @Step_Agency (in Arabic). Retrieved 2019-08-19.
- ^ "Syrian government air strikes intercept Turkish military convoy in Idlib". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
- ^ "Airstrikes halt Turkish convoy on road in Syria". The Herald. 19 August 2019.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Warplanes of the Russian "guarantor" and regime's warplanes bomb the vicinity of the Turkish column and prevent it from passing through to Hama's north". www.syriahr.com. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
- ^ "Turkey fuming after Syrian airstrike on convoy in Islamist-held Idlib province". RT International. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
- ^ "'Three killed' in Syrian strike on Turkish convoy". 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
- ^ "Syrian Regime Forces Surround Turkish Army Post". Asharq AL-awsat. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
- ^ Khodr, Zeina (2019-08-23). "#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". @ZeinakhodrAljaz. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
- ^ Desk, News (2019-08-22). "Turkey not withdrawing from observation post despite encirclement". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help)