Turkish military intervention in Syria (August 2016 – March 2017)
| Operation Euphrates Shield
|
| Part of the Syrian Civil War, the Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War, the Turkey-ISIL conflict, the military intervention against ISIL, and the Rojava conflict
|
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 |
Turkey and allies secure control of Turkey-Syria border and region between Afrin and Manbij regions. |
| Result |
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 in the Jarabulus area from the SDF
- Turkish-backed rebels capture al-Bab from ISIL.
- The SDF is prevented from connecting the cantons.
- The SDF hand over some territory to the Syrian Army.
|
|
| Belligerents |
 Turkey
 Turkish-backed Syrian opposition groups
Support:
 United States
 Russia |
 ISIL |
 Syrian Democratic Forces
 International Freedom Battalion
Support:
United States
 Syrian Arab Republic (minor clashes)
Support:
Russia |
| Commanders and leaders |
|
Lt. Gen. Zekai Aksakallı
(Operations chief commander)
Lt. Gen. İsmail Metin Temel
(Second Army commander)
 Col. Ahmed Othman
(Sultan Murad Division commander)
Fehim İsa
(Sultan Murad Division commander)
 Mahir Basha
(Muntasar Billah Brigade commander)
Mustafa Cahit
(Muntasar Billah Brigade commander)
Mohammad Abu Ibrahim
(Levant Front field commander)
 Mustafa Sejari
(Al-Moutasem Brigade political leader)
Abu Mohammed Kafr Zita
(Liberation Brigade commander)
 Mahmoud Abu Hamza
(Descendants of Saladin Brigade commander)
Capt. Abdul Salam Abdul Razaq
Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement commander, until 28 January)
 Capt. Mohammed Abu Mustafa
(Sham Legion commander)
Abu Jafer
(Brigade of Conquest commander)
Abu Bahjat
(Artillery base commander of Levant Front)
Yusuf Sibli
(Qabasin Military Council commander)
Brig. Gen. Abdul Razaq Aslan
(Police force head)
Taha Atrach
(1st Aleppo Division commander)
WIA
-
 Zakariya Wali (WIA)
(Mehmed the Conqueror Brigade military commander)
|
POW
-
Abu Ibrahim Al-Faransi (POW)
(French emir of al-Bab)
|
 Muhammad Ahmed
(Jarabulus Military Council commander)
 Adnan Abu Amjad
(Manbij Military Council commander)
 Anwar Khabat
(Euphrates Liberation Brigade commander)
Talal Silo (spokesperson for the Syrian Democratic Forces)
|
| Units involved |
|
Turkish Armed Forces
Hawar Kilis Operations Room
Free Idlib Army
|
_(within_Northern_Syria).svg)
Turkey
Turkish-backed Syrian opposition groups
United States
Russia
ISIL
Syrian Arab Republic (minor clashes)
Talal Silo (spokesperson for the Syrian Democratic Forces)
