Operation Olive Branch

Operation Olive Branch
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Name	Operation Olive Branch
Partof	Syrian Civil War
Date	20 January 2018 – 24 March 2018
Place	Afrin District, Aleppo Governorate, Syria; border regions with Turkey
Result	Turkish and allied Syrian opposition capture of Afrin city and district; displacement and contested control
Combatant1	Turkey; Free Syrian Army factions; Syrian National Army
Combatant2	Democratic Union Party; People's Protection Units; Syrian Democratic Forces elements; YPG International
Commander1	Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; Hulusi Akar; Mehmetçik
Commander2	Salih Muslim; Sipan Hemo; Sipan Hemo (?)
Strength1	Turkish Armed Forces; allied rebel brigades
Strength2	YPG and local defense units
Casualties1	Turkish casualties; rebel casualties
Casualties2	YPG casualties; civilian casualties
Notes	Contested casualty figures; allegations of human rights violations

Operation Olive Branch Operation Olive Branch was a Turkish-led offensive launched in January 2018 into the Afrin District of northern Syria during the Syrian Civil War and the Rojava conflict (2012–present). The operation involved conventional Turkish Armed Forces units, Turkish Air Force assets, and Syrian opposition factions against the People's Protection Units and affiliated forces, resulting in the capture of Afrin city in March 2018 and widespread displacement, international controversy, and enduring diplomatic ramifications.

Background

In the years after the Syrian Civil War began in 2011, Kurdish-led administrations in northern Syria organized under the Democratic Union Party and the People's Protection Units to form the de facto autonomous region often referred to as Rojava. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's rise prompted cooperation between the United States and the Syrian Democratic Forces against ISIL in Raqqa, while Turkey viewed People's Protection Units as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party insurgency across the Turkey–Iraq border. Tensions between Ankara and Washington, D.C. grew over arms transfers and support, and prior Turkish operations such as Operation Euphrates Shield shaped Ankara's posture toward northern Syria.

Combatants and commanders

Turkish forces were directed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Turkish Armed Forces high command including Defense Minister Hulusi Akar. Turkish military elements included the Turkish Land Forces, Special Forces, and the Turkish Air Force. Syrian opposition groups aligned with Turkey comprised factions from the Free Syrian Army and the coalition later called the Syrian National Army. Defenders in Afrin were primarily the People's Protection Units with political leadership from the Democratic Union Party and coordination with parts of the Syrian Democratic Forces. Prominent Kurdish figures associated with the defense included Salih Muslim and local commanders.

Course of the operation

The offensive began with aerial bombardment and artillery strikes, followed by cross-border incursions and coordinated advances by Turkish-backed rebels. Major actions included the siege and capture of strategic towns and high ground around the Afrin plain, culminating in the capture of Afrin city in March 2018. Throughout the campaign, clashes occurred near border crossings and in contested villages, with reports of guerrilla-style resistance, tunnel warfare, and urban combat. After the fall of Afrin, insurgent actions continued, and control of key corridors prompted confrontations with Syrian Arab Army elements and irregular militias in neighbouring areas.

Military units and equipment

Turkish units employed main battle tanks such as variants used by the Turkish Armed Forces, armoured personnel carriers, artillery systems, and attack helicopters and strike aircraft from the Turkish Air Force. Syrian opposition contingents fielded infantry brigades drawn from named factions within the Free Syrian Army (2011–present), equipped with light armour, technicals, and anti-armour weapons. Kurdish defenders relied on light infantry, improvised fortifications, small arms, and captured Soviet-era equipment common in the Syrian Arab Republic's conflict zones. Unmanned aerial vehicles and electronic warfare capabilities were reported among the operators on multiple sides, reflecting capabilities seen in prior engagements like Operation Euphrates Shield and the Battle of Kobani.

Casualties and humanitarian impact

Casualty figures have been contested, with Turkish authorities, Kurdish organizations, and international monitors reporting differing tallies for combatant and civilian dead and wounded. The offensive produced large population movements, with hundreds of thousands of civilians fleeing Afrin toward other parts of Aleppo Governorate and Idlib Governorate or seeking refuge in Syrian Democratic Forces-held areas. Humanitarian organizations and rights monitors alleged incidents including civilian infrastructure damage, looting, and forced displacement, generating concern from entities such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Reports suggested damage to cultural heritage and disruption to civilian services across the district.

International reaction and diplomacy

The operation drew widespread diplomatic responses. United States officials expressed concern about escalation and the implications for counter-ISIL cooperation, while Russia maintained a complex posture balancing relations with Turkey and the Syrian Arab Republic. European Union capitals and organizations called for de-escalation, and neighboring states like Iraq and Iran issued statements reflecting regional sensitivities. International bodies debated humanitarian access and protection of civilians, and bilateral tensions were evident between Ankara and partners over weapons transfers and regional strategy.

Aftermath and legacy

Following the capture of Afrin, Turkish-backed administrations installed local governance structures linked to the Syrian National Army (Turkey), sparking demographic and political changes in the district. Insurgency and asymmetric attacks persisted, contributing to a fragmented security environment and complicating Astana talks-era arrangements involving Russia, Turkey, and Iran. The operation influenced subsequent Turkish policy in northern Syria, debates within NATO regarding alliance coordination, and international legal discussions on occupation, human rights, and displacement. Long-term effects include contested narratives about sovereignty, local coexistence, and the strategic balance among Ankara, Damascus, Moscow, and Washington, D.C..

Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war