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Turkish military intervention in Syria

Operation Euphrates Shield
Part of the Syrian Civil War, the Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War, the military intervention against ISIL, and the Rojava conflict
Western al-Bab offensive (2016) (within Northern Syria).svg
Map of situation in Aleppo Governorate as of 26 March 2017.
Date 24 August 2016 – 29 March 2017
(7 months and 5 days)
Location Syria-Turkey border, northern Aleppo Governorate
Action With Turkish lead, Turkey-backed Syrian rebels to secure control of Turkey-Syria border and west of the Euphrates River
Status

Turkish and FSA victory

  • Clashes erupt between Turkish-backed Syrian rebels and SDF, YPG withdraws to east of Euphrates though Turkey disputes this
  • As of 25 February 2017, 50,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey have returned to the areas which were taken under control since the beginning of the intervention.
Territorial
changes
  • As of 25 February 2017, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels captured a total of 2,000 square kilometres (770 sq mi), including 230 settlements, increasing FSA-controlled territory in the region to 2,225 square kilometres (859 sq mi)
  • ISIL-held territory along the Turkish-Syrian border completely captured by the Turkish-backed rebels
  • Turkish-backed rebels capture all settlements from the SDF in the Jarabulus area
  • Turkish-backed rebels capture Al-Bab from ISIL.
  • The SDF allies itself with Russia and hands over territory to the Syrian Army.
Belligerents
 Turkey
 Syrian opposition
Support:
 United States
 Russia 		 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Syrian Democratic Forces
International Freedom Battalion
Support:
 United States
 Russia

Syrian Arab Republic (minor clashes)
Support:
 Russia
Commanders and leaders

Turkey Lt. Gen. Zekai Aksakallı
(Operations chief commander)
Turkey Lt. Gen. İsmail Metin Temel
(Second Army commander)
Syrian opposition Col. Ahmed Othman
(Sultan Murad Division commander)
Syrian opposition Fehim İsa
(Sultan Murad Division commander)
Mahir Basha
(Muntasar Billah Brigade commander)
Mustafa Cahit
(Muntasar Billah Brigade commander)
Syrian opposition Mohammad Abu Ibrahim
(Levant Front field commander)
Syrian opposition Mustafa Sejari
(Al-Moutasem Brigade political leader)
Syrian opposition Abu Mohammed Kafr Zita
(Liberation Brigade commander)
Mahmoud Abu Hamza
(Descendants of Saladin Brigade commander)
Capt. Abdel Salam Abdel Razaq
Capt. Mohammed Abu Mustafa
(Sham Legion commander)
Abu Jafer
(Brigade of Conquest commander)
Syrian opposition Abu Bahjat
(Artillery base commander of Levant Front)
Syrian opposition Yusuf Sibli
(Qabasin Military Council commander)
Syrian opposition Brig. Gen. Abd al-Razaq Aslan
(Police force head)
Syrian opposition Taha Atrach
(1st Aleppo Division commander)

Muhammad Ahmed
(Jarabulus Military Council commander)

Adnan Abu Amjad
(Manbij Military Council commander)
Anwar Khabat
(Euphrates Liberation Brigade commander)
Units involved

Turkey Turkish Armed Forces

Syrian opposition Hawar Kilis Operations Room

Syrian opposition Free Idlib Army