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might want to start a separate article for this to link as a hatnote since most of it is not about the offensive →‎Media restrictions and arrests in Turkey
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==Media restrictions and arrests in Turkey==
==Media restrictions and arrests in Turkey==
Turkish government ministers ordered the Turkish press to follow a 15-point list of "expectations" for reporting on the conflict, which included: "Ignore 'information pollution' that depicts attacks on civilians, and remind the audience of the care taken by the army to avoid civilian casualties" (point 4), "Do not draw attention to anti-Afrin operation protests and statements by the domestic political extensions of the PKK" (point 10), "Be careful while reporting news of potential martyrs" (point 11), "Do not report news that boosts the morale of the PKK/PYD" (point 14) and "Media should contact [[Bekir Bozdağ]] [deputy prime minister] and Mahir Unal [AKP spokesman] for correct information in order to be able to inform the public" (point 15).<ref name=middleeasteye>{{cite news|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-press-restrictions-afrin-olive-branch-1109543029|title=Turkey imposes restrictive 'guidelines' on reporting Afrin battle|agency=Middle East Eye|date=22 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://t24.com.tr/haber/muhalif-medyayi-da-cagirmisti-basbakan-zeytin-dali-harekatini-anlatti-basindan-beklentilerini-siraladi,541170|title='Muhalif' medyayı da çağırmıştı; Başbakan, 'Zeytin Dalı' harekâtını anlattı, basından beklentilerini sıraladı|date=21 January 2018|accessdate=23 January 2018}}</ref>
Turkish government ministers ordered the Turkish press to follow a 15-point list of "expectations" for reporting on the conflict, which included not emphasizing attacks on civilians or protests against the operation. Jouranlists were admonished not to "report news that boosts the morale of the PKK/PYD".<ref name=middleeasteye>{{cite news|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-press-restrictions-afrin-olive-branch-1109543029|title=Turkey imposes restrictive 'guidelines' on reporting Afrin battle|agency=Middle East Eye|date=22 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://t24.com.tr/haber/muhalif-medyayi-da-cagirmisti-basbakan-zeytin-dali-harekatini-anlatti-basindan-beklentilerini-siraladi,541170|title='Muhalif' medyayı da çağırmıştı; Başbakan, 'Zeytin Dalı' harekâtını anlattı, basından beklentilerini sıraladı|date=21 January 2018|accessdate=23 January 2018}}</ref> {{As of|January 23 2018}} at least 24 journalists have been arrested in Turkey who wrote columns that were against the operation.<ref name="ifex1">{{cite news|title=Journalists detained for social media posts criticising Turkish military operation|url=https://www.ifex.org/turkey/2018/01/23/journalists-detained-social-media/|agency=Initiative for Freedom of Expression|date=23 January 2018}}</ref> In addition to the arrest of journalists, at least 57 known arrests occurred of social media users who criticized the operation. These Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said that the posts were violations of the following crimes proscribed by Articles 125/3-a, 216-1, 199 and [[Article 301 (Turkish Penal Code)|301]] of the Turkish Penal Code, and Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law: Insulting a public official; Insulting the president; Publicly degrading the Turkish Nation, the State of the Turkish Republic and its military; and Spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization.<ref name="ifex1" />

Nevertheless, dozens of journalists have been arrested for voicing their opposition to the operation.<ref name=middleeasteye /><ref name="ifex1">{{cite news|title=Journalists detained for social media posts criticising Turkish military operation|url=https://www.ifex.org/turkey/2018/01/23/journalists-detained-social-media/|agency=Initiative for Freedom of Expression|date=23 January 2018}}</ref> At least 24 known arrests have occurred across Turkey of journalists who wrote columns that were against the operation.<ref name="ifex1" />

In addition to the arrest of journalists, at least 57 known arrests occurred of social media users who criticized the operation. These Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said that the posts were violations of the following crimes: 'Insulting a public official,' 'Insulting the president,' 'Publicly degrading the Turkish Nation, the State of the Turkish Republic and its military,' 'Spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization,' prescribed in Articles 125/3-a, 216-1, 199 and [[Article 301 (Turkish Penal Code)|301]] of the Turkish Penal Code, and Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law."<ref name="ifex1" />

The office of the Turkish Cypriot newspaper, ''Afrika'', was ransacked after Erdogan pointed out in a public speech that the newspaper wrote an article entitled the "Yet Another Occupation by Turkey", referring to operation's similarities with the [[Turkish occupation of Cyprus]]. Erdogan called it a "dirty headline" which provoked a crowd of 500 protesters to surround the newspaper's offices yelling "Allah Akbar!" as they hurled eggs, stones, and water bottles while some carrying flags of Erdogan. The crowd then moved inside the building and broke the furniture, windows, and equipment.<ref name=middleeasteye /><ref>https://odatv.com/erdoganin-cevap-verilsin-dedigi-gazeteyi-bu-hale-getirdiler-2201181200.html</ref><ref name="ifex1" />

Turkish mainstream newspapers featured front page titles such as "We said we would strike despite the US and Russia. We struck the traitors", "We hit them in their den", "Iron fist to terror, olive branch to civilians", and "Our jets hit Afrin. Turkey’s heart beats as one" from the [[Sözcü]], [[Sabah (newspaper)|Sabah]], [[Haberturk]], and [[Hurriyet]] newspapers respectively.<ref>{{cite web|title=Syria - Turks Attack Afrin, U.S. Strategy Fails, Kurds Again Chose The Losing Side|url=http://www.moonofalabama.org/2018/01/syria-turks-attack-afrin-us-strategy-fails-kurds-again-chose-the-losing-side-.html|website=Moon of Alabama|publisher=Moon of Alabama|date=21 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Turkish papers this morning|url=https://twitter.com/selingirit/status/954940927214346241|publisher=BBC correspondent Selin Girit}}</ref>


==International reactions==
==International reactions==

Revision as of 10:03, 23 January 2018

For the previous Turkish operation in Syria, see Turkish military intervention in Syria (August 2016 – March 2017).
Turkish military intervention in Afrin (January 2018–present)
Part of the Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present), Syrian Civil War and the Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War
Date20 January 2018[a] – present
(6 years, 3 months, 3 weeks and 5 days)
Location
Afrin District, northern Aleppo Governorate, Syria
Status

Ongoing

  • Turkish-backed FSA captures 4–9 villages[2][3] and the Barsaya mountain[4]
  • YPG recaptures 2 villages[5] and the Barsaya mountain[6]
Belligerents
 Turkey
Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army[1]		 Democratic Federation of Northern Syria
Kurdistan Workers' Party (claimed by Turkey)
Commanders and leaders
Turkey Lt. Gen. İsmail Metin Temel[7]
(Operations chief commander)
Maj. Yasser Abdul Rahim[8]
(Sham Legion commander)
Lt. Col. Muhammad Hamadin[9]
(Third Legion and Levant Front commander)
Abu Muslim[8]
(Levant Front commander)
Fahim Eissa
(Second Legion commander)

Mehmud Berxwedan[10]
(YPG and SDF Afrin commander)

Haji Ahmed[11]
(Army of Revolutionaries commander)
Units involved

Turkey Turkish Armed Forces

Olive Branch Operations' Room

Syrian Democratic Forces

Afrin Region forces

Strength

Turkey 6,400 troops (according to Sputnik)[14]

Unit Strengths
10,000–25,000[20][21]		 8,000–10,000[22]
Casualties and losses

Turkey 1 killed[23]
25–32 killed (per SOHR)[24]

40 killed, 3 captured (SDF claim)[25][26]		 27–34 killed (per SOHR)[27][24]
16 captured (per Turkey)[28][29][30]
24 civilians killed in Syria (per SOHR)[24]
2 civilians killed in Turkey[31]
a The TAF announced the start of Operation Olive Branch on 20 January,[32] while the Turkish Defence Minister stated it "de facto started with cross-border shelling" the day before.[33]

In January 2018, the Turkish military began an intervention in the Afrin region of Syria, code-named by Turkey as Operation Olive Branch (Turkish: Zeytin Dalı Harekâtı). The offensive is against the Kurdish-led Democratic Union Party in Syria (PYD),[34] its armed wing People's Protection Units (YPG),[35] and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) positions surrounding the Syrian city of Afrin.[33] Turkey also says it is fighting the ISIL.[36] Afrin and the surrounding area is claimed by the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria as the Afrin Region. It is the first major military operation by Turkey in Syria since Operation Euphrates Shield.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on the same day that the operation in Afrin would be followed by a push in the northern town of Manbij, which the US-backed Kurdish forces captured from ISIL in 2016.[22] The YPG announced that it would protect the people of Afrin and respond to the Turkish army.[37] Dozens of civilians have been killed since the operation started.[38]

Demonstrations have taken place in Turkey both for and against the military operations. Erdoğan has threatened there will be a "heavy price" for those who have protested against the military offensive.[39][40] Dozens of journalists and at least 57 social media users have been arrested for criticizing the operation.[41]

Background

Demonstration in Afrin (top) to support the YPG and the YPJ against the Turkish military operation, and demonstration in Bizaah (bottom) to support the Turkish military operation in Afrin against the YPG and the YPJ, 19 January 2018.

The offensive came amid growing tension between the Turkish and American governments over the latter's support of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are made up primarily of Kurdish fighters of the YPG, which Turkey considers to be a branch of the PKK. In particular, Turkey objected to announced plans by the US to train and equip a 30,000 strong SDF border force, which Turkey claimed posed a direct threat to their security. "A country we call an ally is insisting on forming a terror army on our borders," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a speech in Ankara. "What can that terror army target but Turkey? Our mission is to strangle it before it's even born."[42]

In the days prior to the offensive, Turkey and the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army exchanged artillery fire with YPG militants along the Turkish-Syrian border near Afrin. The YPG shelled the TFSA-held town of Azaz.[43][44] The Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency reported that Russian military observers in the Afrin area began withdrawing on 19 January 2018 in anticipation of a Turkish offensive on YPG positions in Afrin.[45][46]

On 21 January Erdoğan warned that anyone in Turkey protesting against the operation will pay a "heavy price".[39][47] Erdoğan then added: "Know that wherever you go out on the streets our security forces are on your necks."[48]

File:TSK Komutanları Afrin Harekatı brifingi.jpg
The Chief of the General Staff Hulusi Akar and Turkish Armed Forces commanders conduct a briefing of the operation.

Offensive

The Turkish government announced the start of the offensive on 19 January 2018, with Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli stating, "The operation has actually de facto started with cross-border shelling." He added no troops had crossed into Afrin.[33] Turkey intensified its shelling later, while People's Protection Units (YPG) claimed that 70 shells had been fired overnight.[49] After days of shelling, Turkish fighter jets on 20 January 2018 carried out air raids on the border district targeting positions held by the PYD and YPG groups.[22]

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that 14 people in a psychiatric hospital had been wounded due to shelling by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Turkish media reported that 20 buses carrying Turkish-backed Syrian opposition rebels had crossed into Syria through the Öncüpınar border crossing. An AFP photographer stated that 30 buses carrying Syrian fighters had also crossed through the Cilvegözü border crossing.[50]

On 20 January, the pro-PYD Hawar News Agency reported that fighters of the Army of Revolutionaries in the Shahba Canton inflicted damage to the ranks of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army as they killed 4 SNA fighters, and wounded 5 others, in a claimed response to the recent mortar bombardments of civillian areas.[51] YPG forces fired rockets on Turkish border towns Kilis and Reyhanli, where at least one civilian was reported killed amongst a number of wounded.[39] Turkey announced that its airstrikes had hit 150 targets in Afrin.[52][53]

The Turkish General Staff made the announcement in a statement published on its website, saying the objective of the mission is to "establish security and stability on our borders and region, to eliminate terrorists of PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and ISIL."[54]

On 21 January 2018, Turkish state media reported Turkish ground forces begun to move into Afrin[55] and had advanced up to 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) into the territory.[39] The British based SOHR reported that Turkish troops had clashed with Kurdish militias on the northern and western borders of Afrin and entered the towns of Shankil and Adah Manli to the west.[56]

Turkish forces announced the capture of several more villages on 22 January, while the YPG repelled the Turkish assault on two others.[57] The same day, the first Turkish soldier was reported killed in the fighting.[23][58]

Media restrictions and arrests in Turkey

Turkish government ministers ordered the Turkish press to follow a 15-point list of "expectations" for reporting on the conflict, which included not emphasizing attacks on civilians or protests against the operation. Jouranlists were admonished not to "report news that boosts the morale of the PKK/PYD".[59][60] As of January 23 2018 at least 24 journalists have been arrested in Turkey who wrote columns that were against the operation.[41] In addition to the arrest of journalists, at least 57 known arrests occurred of social media users who criticized the operation. These Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said that the posts were violations of the following crimes proscribed by Articles 125/3-a, 216-1, 199 and 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, and Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law: Insulting a public official; Insulting the president; Publicly degrading the Turkish Nation, the State of the Turkish Republic and its military; and Spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization.[41]

International reactions

Syria

The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned "the Turkish aggression against the town of Afrin", calling it "an inseparable part of Syria".[61] President of Syria Bashar al-Assad denounced the Turkish invasion as terrorism[62] saying "Turkey’s aggression in the Syrian city of Afrin cannot be separated from the policy pursued by the Turkish regime since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis and built on support for terrorism and various terrorist groups"[63]

UN-member states

  • Azerbaijan Azerbaijan: Spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hikmət Hacıyev said that Azerbaijan fully understands Turkey’s security concerns against "terror threat". Hacıyev also said: "Azerbaijan, which suffered from terrorism, condemns all forms and manifestations of terrorism and supports the efforts of the international community in the fight against this menace."[64]
  • Egypt Egypt: Egypt condemned Turkey's military operation in the Afrin region and stated it was a serious threat to Syria's sovereignty.[65]
  • Germany Germany: The spokesman assistant from the Minister for Foreign Affairs said that "Turkey has legitimate security interests along its border with Syria, We hope and expect that Turkey will continue to exert political and military restraint". Breul also added that Germany believes that the focus of military activities in northern Syria should be on ISIL and its successor terrorist organizations in the region.[67]
  • Iran Iran: A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "Iran hopes that this operation will be ended immediately to prevent a deepening of the crisis in the border regions of Turkey and Syria. A continued crisis in Afrin may boost (..) terrorist groups in northern Syria."[68]
  • Netherlands Netherlands: The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Halbe Zijlstra, said that Turkey has the right to defend itself and its border, but at the same pleaded for Turkey to show restraint. He also mentioned in his letter to the Dutch parliament that the Turkish offensive in Afrin will impact the joint fight against ISIL. He believes this to be the case, because the Kurdish YPG fights alongside the international coalition against the ISIL, and are now attacked by Turkey. Furthermore, he hopes to get more information from Turkish authorities concerning the operation, however, if this is not the case then he will ask for more clarity at the next NATO meeting.[69]
  • Russia Russia: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the Turkey's actions as "mad",[70] while also saying that it was the "unilateral actions" by the United States in Iran and Syria that "enraged" Turkey.[71] The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Moscow was closely following the situation in Syria's Afrin and was concerned by the news about the Turkish military engagement in the city. The Russian Ministry of Defense said that Russia was withdrawing its troops from Syria's Afrin, the target of the Turkish offensive.[61]
  • United States United States: A spokesman for the Pentagon stated: "We encourage all parties to avoid escalation and to focus on the most important task of defeating ISIS." The spokesman then added that the United States understands Turkey's concerns about the PKK, but would like to see a deescalation of violence and instead focus on fighting ISIS.[73] US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert called on Turkey not to engage in any invasion of Syria's Afrin, reiterating a statement made by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who also assured that the US had no intention of building a Syria-Turkey border force, saying the issue, which has incensed Ankara, had been "misportrayed."[61] A day later, Tillerson then added that the United States is "very concerned" and that the operation should remain limited in scope and should show restraint.[74]

Supranational organizations

  • European Union European Union: The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said she was "extremely worried" and would seek talks with Turkish officials. She expressed her concerns for two reasons: "One side is the humanitarian one -- we need to make sure that humanitarian access is guaranteed and that civilian population and people are not suffering from military activities on the ground," The second issue, was that the offensive "can undermine seriously the resumption of talks in Geneva, which is what we believe could really bring sustainable peace and security for Syria". [75]

Other regional actors

  • Syrian opposition Syrian National Coalition
    • Syrian Turkmen councilhead Emin Bozoğlan stated "We were informed that the terror group PYD/PKK will transfer its arms to Raqqa, where they used to work with regime forces for years." He also said Turkey should "definitely" take necessary measures in this regard.[76]
  • The YPG stated that "they will respond to the Turkish provocation since civilians have been attacked".[77][78] General Command of YPG in Afrin stated: "We know that, without the permission of global forces and mainly Russia, whose troops located in Afrin, Turkey cannot attack civilians using Afrin airspace. Therefore we hold Russia as responsible as Turkey and stress that Russia is the crime partner of Turkey in massacring the civilians in the region."[79]

Other political entities

  •  Northern Cyprus: In a Twitter post, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün said his greatest wish is the successful outcome of the Afrin operation.[80]

References

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    "Turkish forces claim two more towns captured in northern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
    Video footage from northern Aleppo shows Turkish-backed rebels inside key town"Turkish forces seize several areas in northern Aleppo – map". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
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  77. ^ "Airstrikes pound Syria's Afrin as Turkey launches 'Operation Olive Branch'". Reuters.
  78. ^ "Turkish jets bomb Syria's Kurdish-held Afrin". DW. 20 January 2018. The YPG said the airstrikes had hit Afrin's civilian neighborhoods and left it with no choice but to fight back.
  79. ^ "Turkish jets target 100 points including civilian areas in Afrin – ANF News English". Ajansfirat.com. 20 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |website= (help)
  80. ^ "Northern Cyprus supports Turkey's Afrin operation". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  81. ^ "Opposition MHP supports Afrin operation". anews.com.tr.
  82. ^ "Turkey's opposition parties lend support to Afrin operation". Hürriyet Daily News.
  83. ^ http://vatanpartisi.org.tr/genel-merkez/haberler/oncu-genclik-ten-afrin-operasyonu-aciklamasi-vatan-savasi-nda-zafer-taarruzudur-25858
  84. ^ Kurdistan24. "HDP condemns Turkey's Afrin invasion as assault on 'Kurdish freedom'". kurdistan24.net.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  85. ^ "TKP'den 'Afrin' açıklaması: Çekin Suriye'den elinizi!". haber.sol.org.tr. 21 January 2018.
  86. ^ "EMEP: Fraternity of peoples is bombed in Afrin". evrensel.net.
  87. ^ [2] TÜRKİYE ERMENİLERİ PATRİKLİĞİ’NDEN
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Turkish_military_intervention_in_Afrin&diff=prev&oldid=821913195

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