‘Operation Peace Spring’: Border Provinces, Investigations, Bans

* Photo: AA

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It has been six days since the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) launched its "Operation Peace Spring" into northern Syria.

We have compiled what has happened in Turkey-Syria border since the first day of the operation on October 9, the casualties, the bans imposed by governorships as part of the operation and detentions and investigations regarding social media messages about the operation.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, since the first day of the operation, three soldiers have lost their lives and three soldiers have been wounded. As for Erdoğan, he announced the number of deceased soldiers as two and that of the wounded soldiers as 27.

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu also announced that as of October 9, 121 people were detained due to their social media posts about the operation and a legal action was taken against almost 500 people. Erdoğan also made a statement about the issue, announcing the number of the detained as 109. He also added that an administrative action was taken against 589 people.

The Ministry of National Defense and Erdoğan concurred on the number of civilians who lost their lives as a result of the operation. Accordingly, in the first six days of the operation, 18 civilians lost their lives and at least 140 others were wounded in border districts in Urfa and Mardin as a result of mortar shells and rockets fired from the Syrian side.

The day-by-day developments are as follows:

Border provinces

October 9

* A rocket hit a building in the district of Nusaybin in Turkey's southeastern province of Mardin. It was reported that the rocket was fired from Qamishli (Kamışlı in Tr.) province across Nusaybin. Three people were wounded.

* Two mortar shells were fired from Rasulayn. No one lost their lives or got wounded in the incident.

October 10

* Two mortar shells reportedly fired from Tal Abyad region hit houses on different streets in Akçakale district center in Urfa.

* Releasing a written statement, the Governorship of Urfa announced that four people, including one child, lost their lives and 46 people got wounded. The Governorship of Mardin also announced that three civilians lost their lives and 24 civilians were wounded in Nusaybin as a result of mortar shells fired from the Syrian side of the border.

* It was reported in the news that in Cumhuriyet neighborhood directly neighboring Syria, mortar shells hit two houses. Two people got wounded.

* In the district of Nusaybin in Mardin across Syria's Qamishli, three buildings were targeted by rockets. Three people lost their lives and two people were wounded in the incident.

* Two mortar shells estimated to be fired from Tal Abyad in Syria hit houses on different streets in Akçakale district center in Urfa.

* Authorities of Turkey announced that since October 9 when the "Operation Peace Spring" started six people in total lost their lives in Urfa and Marding as a result of rockets and mortar shells fired from Syria. While 45 people were wounded in Urfa, 24 people were wounded in Mardin.

October 11

* The Ministry of National Defense announced that three soldiers lost their lives and three soldiers were wounded as part of the operation. "The number of neutralized terrorists since the onset of the offensive is 277", it said.

* In a mortar shell attack against civilians in the district of Suruç in Urfa, three people lost their lives and one person was wounded. An attack targeting a civilian-populated area in Nusaybin, Mardin also claimed the lives of eight people and wounded 35 others.

* Fire was opened on the restaurant of a hotel where journalists were following the operation in Nusaybin. The state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported that its one reporter was slightly injured in the incident.

October 12

* A mortar shell hit a two-storey building on Harran Street in Fevzi Çakmak Neighborhood in central Akçakale. As the no one was at home at the time of incident, no one lost their lives as a result of the attack. Another mortar shell hit near Turkey-Syria border. No casualties or injured were reported.

October 13

* During the conflicts in Tal Abyad bordering Turkey's Akçakale district in Urfa, a mortar shell hit an empty house. No one lost their lives or got wounded in the incident.

* Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Mardin MP Mithat Sancar announced that 12 people lost their lives and almost 70 people were wounded in Nusaybin. One third of the province was evacuated.

* Speaking to journalists, President Erdoğan said, "18 citizens of ours have fallen martyrs. Our 140 citizens have also got wounded. In the field of operation, our two soldiers and 16 Syrian National Army (SNA) members have fallen martyrs. 12 soldiers and 57 SNA members got wounded. 490 terrorists were neutralized. 440 of them were killed, 26 of them are wounded and 24 of them submitted themselves."

Investigations

October 10

* The Directorate General of Security announced that a legal action was taken against 78 people due to their social media messages about "Operation Peace Spring". In its statement, the Directorate claimed that the people in question "propagandized for a terrorist organization" in their social media messages and accused them of "inciting the public to enmity and hatred through black propaganda".

* Ankara and İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices also released statements, announcing that a legal action would be taken against the ones who reported news or made broadcasts against the operation.

* Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation against Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chairs Pervin Buldan and Sezai Temelli; Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson and HDP Muş MP Gülüstan Kılıç Koçyiğit; Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chairs and HDP MPs Leyla Güven and Berdan Öztürk. The investigation was launched due to their statements about the "Operation Peace Spring".

* 21 people in Mardin, daily BirGün Digital Services Manager Hakan Demir and Managing Editor of Diken news website Fatih Gökhan Diler in İstanbul were taken into custody due to their social media posts about the operation. Journalists Demir and Diler were released on probation.

October 11

* 11 people were detained in İzmir over their social media messages about the "Operation Peace Spring". Taken into custody in operations launched against 18 residences in central İzmir and districts of Aliağa, Dikili and Menemen, the detained were charged with "attempting to defame Operation Peace Spring", "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "making a call on social media to encourage supporting masses to act against security forces in accordance with the instructions of terrorist organization".

October 13

* Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu made a statement regarding social media operations both on October 11 and 13. "Till now, we have taken the necessary action against around 500 people who insulted Operation Peace Spring, who defined our country as an invader on social media", he said and added, "Our friends have detained 121 people".

* Speaking on the same day, Erdoğan answered the questions of journalists. He announced that 109 people were detained due to their social media messages and an administrative action was taken against 589 people.

Bans

October 9

* The Governorship of Urfa announced that the borderline between Turkey and Syria was declared "special security zones". Accordingly, 14 areas between Birecik and Ceylanpınar were declared "special security zones" to "support the state of security on the border, to ensure citizens safety of life and property and to eliminate possible threats and dangers".

October 10

* The Governorship of Urfa released a statement and announced that press members who would try to take pictures or videos in places declared "Special Security Zones" would be prevented from doing so and a legal action would be taken against them.

* Releasing a written statement on its official website, the Governorship of Kocaeli announced that all events and demonstrations to be held against Turkey's Operation Peace Spring were banned for 15 days. (TP/SD)

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