Key Facts
- Operation start date
- 9 October 2019
- Civilians displaced
- Over 300,000
- Civilian deaths in Syria
- More than 70
- Civilian deaths in Turkey
- 20
- Intended safe zone depth
- 30 km into Syria
- Syrian refugees in Turkey
- 3.6 million
Strategic Narrative Overview
Turkish airstrikes began on 9 October 2019, targeting border towns. The SDF, losing U.S. backing, struck a deal allowing Syrian Arab Army troops into Manbij and Kobanî. Turkey and the SNA simultaneously advanced on Manbij. The U.S. brokered a five-day ceasefire on 17 October, followed by a broader Russian-Turkish agreement on 22 October extending the ceasefire and mandating joint patrols 10 kilometers inside the Syrian border.
01 / The Origins
Turkey designated the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) a terrorist organization due to alleged ties with the PKK. On 6 October 2019, the Trump administration withdrew U.S. troops from northeastern Syria, removing a key deterrent. Turkey, citing self-defense and a goal of creating a 30-kilometer border safe zone to resettle Syrian refugees, launched Operation Peace Spring with the Syrian National Army against the SDF.
03 / The Outcome
The ceasefire beginning 23 October required SDF withdrawal 30 kilometers from the border. Joint Russian-Turkish patrols commenced along the border except at Qamishli. The captured territory became part of Turkey's ongoing occupation of northern Syria. International condemnations, arms embargoes by ten European nations and Canada, and U.S. sanctions on Turkish officials followed. Amnesty International documented evidence of war crimes by Turkish-backed forces.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Side B
2 belligerents
Vladimir Putin.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.