Operation Olive Branch (2018)

Operation Olive Branch (2018)
Name	Operation Olive Branch
Partof	Syrian Civil War and Turkish–Kurdish conflict (1978–present)
Caption	Turkish military map of the operation region
Date	20 January – 24 March 2018
Place	Afrin District, Aleppo Governorate, Syria
Result	Turkish and allied Syrian opposition capture of Afrin District; Democratic Union Party and People's Protection Units withdrawal
Combatant1	Turkey, Syrian National Army (TFSA), National Intelligence Organization
Combatant2	Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, People's Protection Units, Women's Protection Units
Commander1	Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Hulusi Akar, Yasin Günüç
Commander2	Salih Muslim, Ilham Ahmed, Sipan Hemo
Strength1	Estimates: Turkish Armed Forces ~50,000; TFSA ~25,000
Strength2	Estimates: YPG/YPJ and allied local forces ~15,000
Casualties1	Turkish losses reported: dozens killed; TFSA casualties variable
Casualties2	Hundreds killed; thousands displaced

Operation Olive Branch (2018) was a cross-border military offensive launched by Republic of Turkey and allied Syrian opposition factions against the People's Protection Units and affiliated forces in the Afrin District of Syria during the Syrian Civil War and the long-running Turkish–Kurdish conflict (1978–present). Conducted between January and March 2018, the operation culminated in the capture of Afrin District and the withdrawal of People's Protection Units elements, prompting widespread displacement, international condemnation, and diplomatic tensions among regional and global actors.

Background

The operation followed escalating tensions after the Battle of Raqqa (2017), where the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) partnered with the United States's Special Operations Command and Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Ankara viewed the YPG as an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), labeling it a terrorist organization under Turkish law, and cited security concerns following clashes in Idlib Governorate and along the Turkey–Syria border. Prior incidents including the Operation Euphrates Shield, negotiations in Astana talks, and the involvement of Russia and Iran in the Syrian conflict framed the geopolitical context for the offensive.

Belligerents and forces

Turkey deployed elements of the Turkish Armed Forces, including the Turkish Land Forces, artillery units, and Turkish Air Force assets, with political direction from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar. Turkey coordinated with the Syrian National Army anti-Assad factions and intelligence support from the MIT. Defending forces comprised the People's Protection Units (YPG), the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), local Afrin Canton defense units, and volunteers from allied militias under the political leadership of the PYD and regional figures such as Salih Muslim. International actors with interests in the theater included Russia, which maintained a military presence at bases in Latakia Governorate and deployed observers, and the United States which had partnered with the SDF elsewhere in Syria.

Course of the operation

Turkey launched airstrikes and artillery bombardments on 20 January 2018, followed by a ground incursion by Turkish mechanized units and TFSA factions. Major engagements occurred around strategic towns and heights in the Jabal Akrad and approaches to Afrin city. The offensive involved urban combat, siege tactics, and incremental territorial gains, with Turkish forces claiming control of key villages and supply routes. Heavy fighting and shelling intensified in February and March, leading to the encirclement of Afrin city. On 18 March 2018, Turkish-backed forces announced the capture of Afrin city center after YPG withdrawal, and Turkish officials declared the operation effectively complete by late March, though sporadic clashes and insurgent attacks continued.

Humanitarian impact and casualties

The offensive produced significant civilian displacement, with reports of hundreds of thousands fleeing Afrin to Aleppo Governorate and Rojava-controlled areas. Humanitarian agencies and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs observers documented damage to civilian infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and cultural sites. Casualty estimates varied: Turkish officials and TFSA sources reported dozens to hundreds of combatant casualties, while independent monitors attributed several hundred fatalities among fighters and civilians combined. Allegations of looting, demographic change, and forced displacement raised concerns from United Nations Human Rights Council, International Committee of the Red Cross, and NGOs such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

International reactions and diplomacy

The offensive prompted criticism from Iraq, Syrian government officials, and Kurdish political institutions including European Parliament members and Kurdish parties in Iraq. Russia maintained a cautious stance, mediating deconfliction between Ankara and YPG-aligned forces and facilitating agreements on withdrawal corridors. The United States reiterated its partnership with the SDF while calling for de-escalation. Numerous countries and multilateral bodies issued statements urging restraint; parliamentary assemblies in France and Germany debated arms exports to Ankara, and the European Union expressed concern about humanitarian consequences.

Legal and human rights issues

Human rights organizations accused Turkish forces and allied militias of violations potentially amounting to breaches of international humanitarian law, citing indiscriminate shelling, attacks on protected objects, forced displacement, and summary executions. Ankara defended the operation as self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and framed YPG targets as legitimate counterterrorism objectives. Legal debates involved the applicability of occupation law for the administration of Afrin, obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, and potential jurisdiction for international mechanisms such as the International Criminal Court and United Nations investigative bodies.

Aftermath and implications

Following the capture of Afrin, Turkish authorities and TFSA factions established local councils and security arrangements; reports emerged of settlement policies and administrative changes. The operation altered the strategic balance in northwest Syria, affecting Syrian Democratic Forces deployments and prompting concerns about future Turkish incursions, including later operations such as Operation Peace Spring (2019). Afrin's capture influenced Kurdish politics, regional alliances with Russia and Iran, and debates within NATO over Turkey's role. Long-term consequences included residual insurgency activity, contested governance, and ongoing humanitarian needs, shaping trajectories in the broader Syrian Civil War and the Turkish–Kurdish conflict (1978–present).

Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war Category:2018 in Syria Category:2018 in Turkey