Turkey Starts Ground Offensive in Northern Syria

* Photo: Eşber Ayaydın/AA

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The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) have started cross-border military operation into the east of Euphrates as of 4 p.m. today (October 9).

President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the operation on his social media account.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the Ministry of National Defense has released a statement at around 10.30 p.m. and announced that ground offensive has also started.

"Our heroic Turkish Armed Forces and Syrian National Army have started a ground offensive into the east of Euphrates as part of Operation Peace Spring", the Ministry statement has read.

'Turkish howitzers target Tal Abyad'

Shortly before Erdoğan tweeted on 6.17 p.m., explosions were heard in Ras al-Ain (Serekaniye), which is located across Ceylanpınar in Urfa and controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

While TV channels are sharing video footages showing TAF jets bombing the Mişrefa village in Ras al-Ain, it is reported that Gire Spi (Tel Abyad) village is also being bombed by the TAF forces.

State-run Anadolu Agency reported, "Turkish howitzers target terrorists in Tal Abyad town as part of Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria."

'Ras al-Ain and Gre Spi bombed'

* Photo: SDF

Making a statement on their Twitter account, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have announced that four villages have been hit by fighter jets.

These four villages have been indicated as Tael Abyad (Gire Spi), Serekaniye (Ras al-Ain), Qamishlo (Qamışlo) and Ayn Issa.

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have also made a statement about the operation. Sharing a message on his social media account, SDF Spokesperson Mustafa Bali has said, "Turkish fighter jets have started launching an airstrike against civilian-populated areas".

AA: Fighter jets in 30-kilometer depth

The state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) has reported that "the targets around Rami Air Base in the vicinity of Ayn Isa district and in villages of Aluk, Mustel, Esadiye, Fender and Hushan have been bombed by figther jets". As reported by the AA, fighter jets of the TAF have entered 30 kilometer deep in the east of Euphrates controlled by the YPG.

'Operation Peace Spring has started'

President Erdoğan has announced the operation as follows on Twitter:

"The Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Syrian National Army, just launched #OperationPeaceSpring against PKK/YPG and Daesh terrorists in northern Syria. Our mission is to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our southern border, and to bring peace to the area.

"#OperationPeaceSpring will neutralize terror threats against Turkey and lead to the establishment of a safe zone, facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their homes. We will preserve Syria's territorial integrity and liberate local communities from terrorists."

The Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Syrian National Army, just launched #OperationPeaceSpring against PKK/YPG and Daesh terrorists in northern Syria. Our mission is to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our southern border, and to bring peace to the area.

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) October 9, 2019

Erdoğan informed the party leaders

It has been reported that President and ruling AKP Chair Erdoğan called the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli, İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener and main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) by phone and informed them about the operation.

US Ambassador summoned to ministry

* Photos: AA

The US Ambassador has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shortly after the operation was launched. It has been reported that the Ambassador will be informed about the Operation Peace Spring.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also stated that "the members of United Nations (UN) Security Council are being summoned to our Ministry to be informed about the Operation Peace Spring".

Borderline declared 'special security zone'

The Governorship of Urfa has announced that the borderline between Turkey and Syria has been declared a "special security zone".

Rocket hits a building in Nusaybin

A rocket has hit a building in the district of Nusaybin in Mardin. It has been reported that the rocket was fired from Qamishlo across Nusaybin.

Mortar shells hit Ceylanpınar

* Photo: AA

Fired from Resulayn in Syria, two mortar shells have hit the district of Ceylanpınar. No one has lost their lives or been wounded in the incident.

Statement by Minister Çavuşoğlu

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has also made a statement about the operation on his Twitter account. Çavuşoğlu has said that with the operation, "the region will be cleared of terrorists, Syria's border security and territorial integrity will be guaranteed, displaced people will be able to return safely to their homes and peace and safety will prevail in the region."

"This operation is being carried out in accordance with international law, Article 51 of the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolutions on fight against terrorism", Çavuşoğlu has indicated further.

What happened in the last 3 days?

• On October 7, the White House announced, "Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into Northern Syria".
• Speaking on the same day, President Erdoğan said, "We have always said that: We can come one night out of the blue. I still have the same determination".
• Posting a series of tweets about the issue, US President Donald Trump said, "It is time for us to get out of these ridiculous endless wars" and "If Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the economy of Turkey".
• On October 7, Indicating that their joint border patrols continue as agreed, Girê Spî Military Council Spokesperson Mehmûd said that "they were ready to protect their people if Turkey violates any clause of the agreement".

(PT/SD)