Operation Spring Shield | |||||||||
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Part of the 2019–2020 northwestern Syria offensive and Turkish military operations in Idlib as part of Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war | |||||||||
![]() The situation after the ceasefire. | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
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![]() ![]() Supported by: ![]() | ||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Units involved | |||||||||
Strength | |||||||||
8,350[14]–20,000[15] | Unknown | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
Per Turkey:[16][17][18] Materiel: |
Per SOHR:[21] Materiel: |
Operation Spring Shield (Turkish: Bahar Kalkanı Harekâtı) was a cross-border military operation carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in the Idlib Governorate of northwestern Syria against the Syrian Armed Forces and allied militias. The operation was launched on 27 February 2020 in direct response to the Balyun airstrikes, aiming to address the escalating situation in the region.[25][26]
According to Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, the primary objective of Operation Spring Shield was to achieve a ceasefire agreement within the framework of the Astana talks and to establish stability in the Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone. Additionally, the operation sought to prevent the mass migration of people from Idlib to the Turkish border, a pressing humanitarian concern.[27]
On 5 March, Turkey and Russia signed a ceasefire agreement in Moscow, marking a step towards de-escalation in the region.[4]
Background
On 27 February 2020, during the Dawn of Idlib 2 Operation, Turkish Army positions in Balyun, Idlib Governorate, came under attack from airstrikes allegedly conducted by the Syrian Air Force and the Russian Air Force. Resulting in the deaths of 36 Turkish soldiers,[28][16] with a reported number of wounded ranging from 36 to 60.[29][30]
The following day, Russia denied it had carried out the airstrikes and stated that it had made efforts to halt the Syrian military's firing to facilitate the safe evacuation of the Turkish troops. Russia said that the Turkish forces should not have been present in the area, where "counter-terror operations" were underway, and criticized Turkey for failing to notify them about the soldiers' presence in advance. On the contrary, Turkey maintained that Russia was well aware of the locations of Turkish troops, as the two countries regularly communicated about this matter.[31]
Operation timeline
27–28 February
Following the air attack in Balyun, Turkey officially launched its military intervention, initiating Operation Spring Shield. The primary objective of this operation was to put a stop to the Syrian government forces' advancement on Syrian rebels in Idlib and push them back to their pre-offensive positions.[32]
On 28 February, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense reported that the Turkish armed forces had responded to the airstrikes and claimed to have "neutralized" 329 Syrian troops. Additionally, they claimed to have successfully destroyed five helicopters, 23 tanks, 10 armored vehicles, 23 artillery and howitzers, one SA-17, and one SA-22 air defense systems belonging to the Syrian government.[33][34]
A Syrian military official acknowledged that their armored and technical vehicles had been heavily targeted, resulting in significant destruction of their arsenal in northwestern Syria.[35]
A Turkish soldier, 11 Syrian soldiers and four members of the Lebanese Hezbollah were killed during the day.[36][37]
29 February
On 29 February, Turkish airstrikes targeted the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center in As-Safira.[38] Which a Turkish official claimed was used to develop chemical weapons.[39]
During the day, 48 Syrian government soldiers and militias, including 14 Hezbollah fighters were killed and at least 13 military vehicles were destroyed by Turkish strikes.[40]
1 March
On 1 March, two Syrian Su-24 jets were shot down by Turkish Air Force F-16s.[24] All four Syrian pilots safely ejected. Both Syrian and Turkish forces confirmed the downing.[41] Meanwhile a Turkish TAI Anka drone was shot down by Syrian forces.[42] Additionally, Turkish drones bombed the 47th brigade in Hama Military Airport.[43]
During the day, 19 Syrian soldiers were killed by Turkish drones attacks in Jabal al-Zawiya and Al-Hamidia, Idlib countryside.[44]
2 March
On 2 March, a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone was shot down by Syrian Air Defense Force near Saraqib.[45] During the day, a Turkish soldier and 26 Syrian government soldiers were killed in the clashes in Jabal Al-Zawiyah, south Idlib countryside, Saraqib and its countryside.[46][47]
3 March
On 3 March, the Syrian Army captured the strategic city of Saraqib and several surrounding villages after pushing back rebel forces supported by Turkish artillery and air power.[48][49] The Turkish airstrikes on government targets reduced significantly amidst a further government advance toward the town of Afis.[50][51] Concurrently, a Syrian Air Force Aero L-39 Albatros was shot downed by a Turkish F-16 over Idlib, with conflicting reports over the pilots fate.[52][53] Meanwhile, a Turkish Bayraktar drone was shot down by the Syrian Army in the western Aleppo countryside.[54][55]
During the day, five Turkish soldiers were killed by Syrian bombardment in Taftanaz Airbase, Al-Tarnaba and Al-Mastouma camp.[56][57]
4 March 2020
On 4 March, Turkish sources claimed that Suheil al-Hassan was wounded by a drone strike near Saraqib.[58] A Turkish Bayraktar TB2 was shot down by Syrian forces in the Idlib Governorate.[59][60]
During the day, 19 Syrian soldiers and seven non-Syrian fighters were killed by Turkish ground shelling and drones in Idlib countryside.[61]
Ceasefire
On 5 March 2020, the presidents of Turkey and Russia, Erdoğan and Putin, met in Moscow for high-level talks.[62] According to the statements made by the Turkish and Russian leaders following their one-on-one meeting, a ceasefire in the area of Idlib was to come into force from 00:00 hrs on 6 March. The terms of the ceasefire included a secure corridor 6 kilometers either side of the M4 highway, to be patrolled jointly by Russia and Turkey beginning on 15 March.[63]
Syrian Government losses
According to the Oryx blog, Syrian government equipment losses on the ground amounted to 50 tanks, 38 artilleries, 21 IFV's and 31 other vehicles.[64]
The Middle East Institute reported that Turkish drone and artillery strikes, alongside rebel fighters, killed at least 405 pro-regime fighters between February 27 and March 5. And that Damascus had also lost at least 73 armored vehicles to drone strikes and rebel anti-tank guided missile operators during the Turkish operation.[65]
Aftermath
Since the signing of the ceasefire in March 2020, the Syrian Air Force has not conducted any airstrikes within the de-escalation zone, and this status remains unchanged as of April 2023.[66]
See also
- Syrian–Turkish border clashes during the Syrian Civil War
- Operation Peace Spring
- Operation Olive Branch
- Operation Euphrates Shield
- List of wars involving Turkey
References
- ^ Israel learned from Hezbollah's defeat at the hands of Turkey, Jerusalem Post, May 21, 2020. Accessed May 22, 2020.
- ^ a b Bohl, Ryan; Tack, Sim (5 March 2020). "Essential Geopolitics: Turkey and Russia Face a Risky Situation in Syria" (Podcast). Stratfor. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
We've seen a Turkish supported counteroffensive on the ground in Idlib, which has partially failed
- ^ Tuvan Gumrukcu (2020-03-06). "Ceasefire in Syria's Idlib comes at a cost for Turkey's Erdogan". Reuters.
- ^ a b "Syria war: Russia and Turkey agree Idlib ceasefire". BBC News. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ "Opposition factions capture more areas in south Idlib as regime forces advance into Saraqeb". SOHR. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ "Liveuamap, (New Zaytoun, Az Ziyarah, Tell Wasit, Khirbat al-Naqus, Tall Rasm al Kabir, Tall Zajrim, Al Qahirah, Al Zuqum, Qulaydin, Al Ankawi, Al Haluba, Qaqafinah, Kafr Uwayd, Sfuhun, Fulayfil, Al Fatirah)". Liveuamap.
- ^ "Backed by Russian airpower, regime forces recapture Saraqib city only four days after Turkish forces and proxy factions captured it". SOHR. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ "Liveuamap (Kafr Battihk, Dadikh, Turunbah, Jubas, Saraqib)". Liveuamap.
- ^ "Bahar Kalkanı Harekatı'nı yöneten komutan Sinan Yayla kimdir nerelidir?" (in Turkish). Yeni Akit. 2020-03-02.
- ^ "Syrian regime commander reportedly killed in Turkish drone strike in Aleppo". Rudaw. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Turkish combat drones kill 3 Assad regime generals in Idlib". Daily Sabah. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ "Son dakika haberi: SİHA korkusu sardı! Rejimin elindeki asker sayısı azalınca, böyle getirildiler..." Sabah. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ "Cumhurbaşkanlığı İletişim Başkanlığı açıkladı: Güncel haritalar ve grafikler ile Suriye'de yaşanan son gelişmeler". Takvim. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ 150 Turkish military vehicles enter Syria as calm prevails the “de-escalation” zone
- ^ Ceasefire in Syria's Idlib comes at a cost for Turkey's Erdogan
- ^ a b "Erdoğan: İdlib'de 59 şehit verdik". www.sozcu.com.tr. 8 March 2020.
- ^ One Turkish soldier killed, two wounded in Syria's Idlib - ministry, Turkey says one soldier killed in Syrian government shelling in Idlib, One Turkish soldier killed and nine wounded in Syria's Idlib: ministry
- ^ Two Turkish soldiers killed, six wounded in Syria's Idlib - ministry, Turkish defence ministry says two soldiers died in Syria's Idlib
- ^ 1 Bayraktar TB2 (March 2020) [1] Archived 2022-03-02 at the Wayback Machine[2]
1 TAI Anka-S (1 March)[3][4]
1 Bayraktar Tactical UAS (3 March)[5][6]
1 Bayraktar TB2 (4 March) [7] - ^ Services (March 6, 2020). "Turkish UAVs played leading role in Idlib battle". Janes.
- ^ Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (March 5, 2020). "Military escalation in "De-escalation zone" 51 days on: 1,200,000 people displaced…2,640 killed…276 areas fall to regime forces". Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "The Syrian Regime's Combat Losses in Spring 2020, and What Lies Ahead". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
- ^ "The Syrian Regime's Combat Losses in Spring 2020, and What Lies Ahead". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
- ^ a b "بعد إسقاطها لمروحيتين الشهر الفائت.. القوات التركية تسقط طائرتين حربيتين تابعة للنظام السوري في أجواء محافظة إدلب". SOHR. March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ Amberin Zaman (2020-03-01). "Turkey launches Operation Spring Shield against Syrian forces". Al-Monitor.
- ^ Joe Truzman (2020-03-05). "Turkey's Operation "Spring Shield" delivers blow to Hezbollah". Longwarjournal.org.
- ^ "Rusya'dan İdlib açıklaması: Ateşkes düzenlemesine genel olarak uyuluyor" (in Turkish). Ankara: Milliyet. 2020-03-12.
- ^ Kemal, Levent (5 November 2021). "Turkey blamed Syria for a deadly air strike. Its troops blame Russia". Middle East Monitor. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ "33 Turkish soldiers killed, 36 wounded in Syria's Idlib - live blog". Ahval. Archived from the original on 2020-12-14. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
- ^ Gurcan, Metin (February 28, 2020). "Deciphering Turkey's darkest night in Syria". Al-Monitor.
- ^ "The Strike: Did Russia Knowingly Target Turkish Troops?". POLYGRAPH.info. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
- ^ "Turkey launches Operation Spring Shield". Hürriyet Daily News. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
- ^ "Bakan Akar: 200'ü aşkın rejim hedefi ağır ateş altına alındı". NTV. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- ^ 45 regime forces killed by bombing drones and war planes and Turkish artillery shelling ... and surface-to-surface missiles targeting the countryside of Aleppo
- ^ Desk, News (February 28, 2020). "Turkish military carries out massive attack against Syrian Army". Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
{{cite web}}
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- ^ Soldatkin, Vladimir (2020-03-06). "Russia, Turkey agree ceasefire deal for Syria's Idlib". Reuters. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
- ^ "45 قتيلا من قوات النظام بقصف طائرات مسيرة وحربية وقصف مدفعي تركي.. وصواريخ أرض-أرض تستهدف ريف حلب". SOHR. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Syrian chemical warfare facility destroyed in overnight Turkish strike: report". I24. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
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