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[1] |
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.[2]
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.[3]
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.[4][5]
On 14 June, following continued standoffs between Turkey and Syria, the Turkish military deployed reinforcements to its positions in Idlib.[6]
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.[7][8]
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.[9][10][11][12] The convoy was halted as a result of the airstrikes.[13][14] 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.[15][16]
See also
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "One of the commander of Faylaq Sham who was accompanying Turkish Army convoy has been killed by an airstrike. 2 others injured. TSK konvoyuna eşlik eden bir Feylak Şam komutanı yapılan hava saldırısı sonucu hayatını kaybetti.pic.twitter.com/IOh9xEeoo7". @op_shield (in Turkish). 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|title=at position 128 (help) - ^ Lister, Charles (2019-08-19). "VERY tense situation around Khan Sheikhoun today, as #Turkey has dispatched a convoy of heavy armor towards the town to establish 2 new observation posts. The convoy was bombed *twice* by #SAA jets - 1 accompanying Faylaq al-Sham commander was killed.pic.twitter.com/hTT8V95oUW". @Charles_Lister. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|title=at position 156 (help) - ^ "Airstrikes halt Turkish convoy on road in Syria". The Herald. 19 August 2019.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Video - The Turkish convoy advance is still suspended due to regime and Russian shelling". www.qasioun-news.com. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
- ^ "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.