Operation Olive Branch

Operation Olive Branch. It was a cross-border military campaign conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces and the Syrian National Army against the Syrian Democratic Forces in the Afrin District of northwestern Syria. The operation aimed to expel the People's Protection Units, which Turkey considers an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, from the region bordering Turkey. The offensive concluded with the capture of Afrin City and significant territorial changes, leading to widespread displacement and ongoing security administration by Turkish-backed forces.

Background

The operation was precipitated by long-standing Turkish security concerns regarding the presence of the People's Protection Units along its southern border following the Syrian Civil War. Turkey viewed the group's control in Afrin District, part of the de facto autonomous region of Rojava, as an existential threat due to its ideological links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party. This followed previous Turkish military interventions in Syria, notably Operation Euphrates Shield. The strategic decision was also influenced by the United States' continued military partnership with the Syrian Democratic Forces in the broader campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in eastern Syria, which Ankara strongly opposed. The 2018 Afrin offensive was formally launched after consultations with Russia, which had maintained a military presence in the region following its intervention in the Battle of Aleppo.

Military operations

The offensive commenced on 20 January 2018 with extensive airstrikes and artillery barrages targeting YPG positions, followed by a ground invasion involving Turkish Land Forces and Syrian National Army factions. Key battles included the Battle of Bulbul, the Battle of Rajo, and the advance toward the strategic Mare' Line. Despite fierce resistance, Turkish-backed forces employed a strategy of envelopment, gradually seizing surrounding villages and cutting supply lines to Afrin City. The Syrian Armed Forces attempted to reinforce the region in late February following a deal with the YPG, but their presence was largely symbolic. The final phase culminated in the Capture of Afrin City on 18 March, marked by a decisive assault and the raising of the Turkish flag and the flag of the Syrian opposition in the city center.

International reactions

The operation drew widespread international condemnation and complex diplomatic maneuvering. The United Nations Security Council held emergency meetings, with calls for a ceasefire largely ignored. NATO allies, including the United States, France, and Germany, expressed concern over the humanitarian impact but took no direct action against Turkey, a fellow NATO member. Russia adopted a permissive stance, withdrawing its troops from the Afrin area prior to the offensive, while Iran voiced opposition to the invasion of Syrian sovereignty. Regional actors like Saudi Arabia and Egypt criticized the operation, whereas Qatar offered support to Ankara. The European Union and Amnesty International issued strong statements highlighting civilian casualties and potential violations of international law.

Aftermath and impact

Following the capture of Afrin City, Turkey and its allied factions established a zone of control, initiating a process of demographic change and securitization. The Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army assumed administrative duties, renaming streets and installing local councils, while reports of looting and property confiscation emerged from groups like Human Rights Watch. The operation significantly altered the map of northern Syria, emboldening Turkey to later launch Operation Peace Spring against the SDF in 2019. It also strained Turkey's relations with the United States and complicated the ongoing International military intervention against ISIL. The YPG forces largely retreated, transitioning to a protracted insurgency involving guerrilla tactics and occasional rocket attacks into Turkish territory from surrounding areas.

Casualties and displacement

The conflict resulted in significant human cost, though figures are contested. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported high casualties among all combatants, while Turkish official figures were considerably lower. Civilian infrastructure, including hospitals in Afrin City and schools in Jindires, sustained heavy damage from airstrikes and shelling. The offensive precipitated a major humanitarian crisis, displacing an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 Kurdish residents from the district, many of whom relocated to areas around Tell Rifaat and Al-Shahba Canton. United Nations agencies documented numerous incidents affecting civilian populations, and subsequent reports by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria cited possible war crimes committed by various parties during the hostilities.

Category:Military operations of the Syrian Civil War Category:Turkey–Syria relations Category:2018 in Syria