Afrin offensive (2018) (within Northern Syria)
Image by Pivot
2017
February 28, 2017
Reuters: Manbij is Turkey‘s next step in Syria operation, Erdogan says
2018
January-March 2018
Operation Olive Branch in Afrin takes place
January 27, 2018
Reuters: Turkey‘s Erdogan says military operation to make big sweep east across Syria
May 7, 2018
Al-Jazeera: Turkey’s Erdogan says he will launch Syria operation to clear border from ‘terrorists’ as he campaigns for re-election
October 31, 2018
TRT: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara is ready to launch military operation in northern Syria to root out terror groups on eastern Euphrates
December 12
Stars and Stripes: Turkey will launch a new military operation against U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria “within a few days,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, a move likely to strain ties further between NATO allies Turkey and the U.S.
Bloomberg: Turkey will start a new military operation against U.S.-backed Kurdish militants in Syria within days, Erdogan says
December 13
Reuters: Hours after Turkey‘s Erdogan says Ankara will launch an operation against U.S.-backed Kurds in Syria in a few days, Pentagon says unilateral military action is ‘unacceptable’.
TRT: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirms that Ankara will launch a new military operation within the next few days in northern Syria against the YPG, which is the PKK terror group’s Syrian offshoot
December 14
Liz Sly: Erdogan & Trump talk on the phone. “The two leaders agreed on the need for more efficient cooperation over Syria, without giving details” (Reuters.) Comes after Erdogan threatened an operation against U.S.-backed Kurds within “days.”
December 15
TRT: Turkey deploys troops to its border with Syria, following President Recep Tayyip Erdogan‘s announcement of a new border operation east of the Euphrates
December 17
Turkish President says Turkey’s military operation in northern Syria will continue until the last of the terrorists are cleared. “Now it’s time for the east of the Euphrates. I told last week that we are going to start a military operation in Syria.”
Reuters: Turkey may start new Syria operation at any moment, Erdogan says
December 21, 2018
Reuters: Turkey to delay Syria operation, Erdogan welcomes U.S. decision to withdraw troops
2019
January 8, 2019
Daily Sabah: Presidential Adviser Kalın is National Security Adviser Bolton’s counterpart, President Erdoğan says, adds that a Turkish operation into northern Syria could happen any moment after the US delegation’s visit.
January 10
Reuters: Turkey says military operation in Syria not dependent on U.S. pull-out
January 22
Turkey to push forces into eastern Syria if promises not kept
April 8
Turkey’s Erdogan to discuss possible operation in Syria with Putin: RIA
July 22
Reuters: Turkey will launch operation in Syria if safe zone not established: minister
August 4
Reuters: Turkey will carry out operation in northern Syria: Ankara
August 5
Turkish President “We will conduct a military operation east of the Euphrates.”
August 6
AFP: Turkish President threatens operation against Syria Kurds ‘very soon’
August 31
AFP: Erdogan vows Syria operation ‘in weeks’ if Turkey has no control of ‘safe zone’
Ragip Soylu: Erdogan also threatens a military operation in northern Syria if the US doesn’t allow Turkish soldiers in the safe zone in next couple weeks.
September 17, 2019
Turkey is “ready to begin operation.”
Turkey may launch an operation within two weeks, Ankara says
Al-Masdar: “If no specific measures are taken there [in the safe zone] within two weeks, we can start our own operation,” Erdogan said
September 20, 2019
MEE: Turkey to deploy doctors ahead of military operation: The move came as Erdogan had threatened a military offensive in northern Syria if the US didn’t honour a “safe zone” agreement in two weeks
September 21, 2019
Reuters (first report): Turkey is ready to act on southern border
Reuters: Turkey is prepared for possible Syria border operation, Erdogan says
TASS: Turkey ends preparations for operation
Turkish Consulate Houston: “Turkey has completed all of its preparations along its Syria border for an operation east of the Euphrates.”
