Key Facts
- Start date
- 24 August 2016
- End date
- 29 March 2017
- Duration
- ~7 months
- Primary initiator
- Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army
- Primary objectives
- Expel IS; counter SDF/Kurdish forces in northern Syria
Strategic Narrative Overview
Beginning on 24 August 2016, Turkish forces and allied Free Syrian Army factions advanced into the area between the Euphrates River and the Azaz pocket. Fighting targeted both IS positions and Syrian Democratic Forces. Turkish-backed groups captured several towns including al-Bab from IS in early 2017. An announced objective of capturing Manbij, controlled by the AANES, was not pursued and ultimately went unfulfilled.
01 / The Origins
Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield in response to growing Islamic State activity along its southern border and the expansion of Syrian Kurdish forces, which Ankara classified as terrorist organizations linked to the PKK. The operation was framed by President Erdoğan as necessary to neutralize threats to Turkish security emanating from northern Syria, reflecting longstanding Turkish concern over Kurdish autonomy near its border.
03 / The Outcome
Turkey declared the operation successfully completed on 29 March 2017, having cleared IS from a stretch of the Syria–Turkey border region. A Turkish-controlled buffer zone was established in northern Syria. The failure to take Manbij left Kurdish-led AANES administration in place there. The operation set a precedent for continued Turkish military presence and further interventions in northern Syria in subsequent years.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Side B
2 belligerents
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.