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Battle of Ras al-Ayn (2019)

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Second Battle of Ras al-Ayn
Part of the Syrian Civil War and the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria
Date9 October 2019 – 20 October 2019[1]
(1 week and 4 days)
Location
Ras al-Ayn, Hasakah Governorate, Syria
Result

Turkish Armed Forces and Allies victory

Belligerents
 Turkey
Syrian National Army		 Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria
Units involved

Turkish Armed Forces

Syrian National Army

Syrian Democratic Forces

Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown
33 civilians killed (per SOHR)[7]

The Second Battle of Ras al-Ayn occurred during the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria, as part of the Rojava conflict of the Syrian Civil War. The battle was fought between Turkish Armed Forces and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).[8] The battle resulted in the capture of Ras al-Ayn/Serê Kaniyê by Turkish/SNA forces on 20 October, and the incorporation of the town under the Turkish occupation of northern Syria.[1]

Background

The battle began with the start of 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria on 9 October 2019. Turkish forces and their rebel allies the Syrian National Army, also known as the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (TFSA), targeted two border towns, Ras al-ayn and Tell Abyad, 120 kilometres to its west.[9]

Battle

Initial advances

Turkish and TFSA forward troops crossed into Syria, moving close to Ras Al-Ayn on 9 October.[10] The town was initially targeted by artillery and aerial bombing by the Turkish Air Force, which resulted in some of the civilian population fleeing the area, heading south.[11] Reinforced Turkish units proceeded to move towards the town later in the day.

Turkish forces enter Ras al-Ayn

On 12 October, more Turkish and TFSA forces attacked and entered Ras al-Ayn, with some reports stating that Turkish troops had advanced into the center of the town. The SDF conducted a tactical retreat, pulling back in response to a Turkish artillery bombardment of their positions. Clashes continued in the industrial district[12] as Turkish forces continued to advance into the town, gaining control of the residential center, with some Turkish media sources stating that the town had been completely captured.[13] However, SDF troops released video of themselves still in the town, continuing to engage the Turkish forces.[14][15] Around this time, Kurdish politician and secretary general of the Future Syria Party Hevrin Khalaf, alongside a number of unarmed civilians, was captured on a road by Ahrar al-Sharqiya fighters and executed outside the town.[16] On 13 October, a convoy of SDF supporters and international media was attacked while attempting to enter Ras al-Ayn to show support. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said Turkish war planes had attacked the column, killing 14 people and injuring 10.[17]

SDF counteroffensive

On 13 October, the SDF launched a counter-offensive, pushing back Turkish forces and recapturing key points of the town, including the industrial district.[18] By 15 October, the SDF had fully recaptured the town and repelled attacks from four groups of the TFSA, according to SOHR.[19][20] The SDF had built extensive tunnel networks under Ras al-Ayn prior to the Turkish incursion and used them to launch attacks on Turkish and TFSA units in the town.[21]

Siege and ceasefire

An abandoned SDF checkpoint outside of Ras al-Ayn, 11 October

On 17 October, amid heavy clashes, Turkish and TFSA forces completely besieged and captured half of Ras al-Ayn after encircling the town and cutting off all roads leading to it, according to SOHR.[2][22]

Later in the day, the United States government and Turkey agreed to a five-day ceasefire deal to allow the SDF to withdraw from the 20 mile safe-zone on the Syria–Turkey border. The SDF said they only accepted the ceasefire in the area between Tall Abyad and Ras al-Ayn,[23] and rejected withdrawing from the entire 20 mile area and transferring the territory to Turkey, calling the effort an occupation.[24] Clashes continued in Ras al-Ayn despite the ceasefire, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.[25] Kurdish Red Crescent ambulances reported they could not reach the town to evacuate the wounded SDF fighters on the first day of the ceasefire.[26] Around this time, a Turkish airstrike wounded five civilians, who were then evacuated to al-Hasakah where Syrian medics showed to the media burns on the victims that they said were consistent with the use of white phosphorus. Turkey rejected accusations it used white phosphorus.[27]

On 18 October, a large convoy of 80 cars and 400 civilians, including the Free Burma Rangers, and people who had traveled from Derik, Qamishli, Tell Tamer, and al-Hasakah attempted to reach Ras al-Ayn to provide humanitarian aid. According to the SDF, the convoy was blocked from entry by TFSA fighters.[28][29][30] In the afternoon, the SDF said an aid convoy had been let through, after having been prevented from entering the town since earlier in the day.[31]

Around this time, Syrian Army units confronted the Turkish and TFSA units near Ras Al-Rayn for the first time, with reports by the media[32] that they could join the battle on the side of the SDF, potentially lifting the siege of the city.[32]

On 20 October, the Kurdish Red Crescent were allowed into the town and evacuated 30 injured people, both civilians and soldiers. The medical team stated that the town was running low on supplies. The hospital itself had come under attack in an attempt by the TFSA to capture it.[33] International fighters with the SDF saw combat, and at least one German national died in the battle, defending the hospital.[34][35]

SDF withdrawal

On 20 October, three days after Ras al-Ayn was fully encircled, the SDF announced they would be withdrawing from the town to comply with the US-brokered deal with Turkey. Some SDF forces began withdrawing, accompanied by some of the civilian residents who fled in fear of the Turkish-allied militias.[36] The SDF commander who announced the deal said the SDF would withdraw back to the 30 km area imposed by the ceasefire conditions only after the civilians and soldiers were allowed to evacuate from Ras al-Ayn.[37] Despite the ceasefire, the town was still sporadically shelled and occasional gunfights broke out.[38] SDF troops completely withdrew from Ray al-Ayn by the end of 20 October, with an SDF spokesperson saying that no SDF troops were left inside the town.[38] 86 vehicles left the town, taking SDF troops to Tell Tamer, located about 40 kilometres south of Ras al-Ayn, alongside a few hundred civilians.[39][40] Turkish and TFSA units officially captured the town later in the day.[1]

Alleged chemical weapons attack

Allegations that illegal weapons had been used by TFSA forces were raised by medical teams treating civilians, who had been hit by Turkish allied forces weaponry in Ras Al-Ain on the 17th of October. A number of civilians, who had been evacuated to the nearby town of Hasakah to be treated at the Hospital, showed signs consistent with White Phosphorus burns. The civilians had the burn marks on both their faces and torso, and were first and second degree burns. Intentionally using white phosphorus against civilians, can be construed as a war crime.[41] UN investigators collected evidence in order to investigate the claims. The Turkish Government denied it was a chemical attack, stating that they had no chemical weapons in their inventory. The situation was made worse for the wounded by the fact there were few medical centres left in Ras Al-Ain that could treat people.[42] The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) made moves to investigate the attack, but eventually did not start an investigation, stating that White Phosphorus is a heat based weapon rather than chemical, and so outside its remit. There was some criticism of the OPCW, with allegation that it was biased based on the fact it received donations from Turkey.[43]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Turkish army takes control over Syrian border city of Ras al-Ayn - TV". TASS.
  2. ^ a b "القوات التركية والفصائل تحاصر مدينة رأس العين (سري كانييه) بشكل كامل، ولا صحة لسيطرة "النظام السوري" على سجون قوات سوريا الديمقراطية ضمن المناطق التي انتشرت بها • المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان". 17 October 2019.
  3. ^ "قوات سوريا الديمقراطية تنسحب من كامل مدينة رأس العين (سري كانييه) • المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان". October 20, 2019.
  4. ^ "Opinion | 'Oh My God, Why Are They Doing This?' Northeastern Syrians Await Their Fate". The Forward. 13 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Syria: Kurdish forces pull out of besieged town | DW | 20.10.2019". DW.COM.
  6. ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (21 December 2020). "Liwa al-Shamal al-Dimoqrati: Component of the Syrian Democratic Forces". Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  7. ^ "11 days of Operation “Peace Spring”" Syrian Human rights Observatory http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=144627
  8. ^ "'They didn't help us in WWII': Trump dismisses plight of Kurds facing Turkish onslaught in Syria". ABC News. 2019-10-09. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  9. ^ Staff, Our Foreign (2019-10-12). "'Nine civilians executed' as Kurds accuse US of 'leaving us to be slaughtered'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  10. ^ "Turkey Begins Offensive in Syria After U.S. Stands Aside". Bloomberg.com. 2019-10-09. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  11. ^ "Turkey launches offensive in northeast Syria". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  12. ^ "Turkish-led forces advance into Syrian border town, fighting rages". Reuters. 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  13. ^ "Turkish howitzers hit terror targets in Ras al-Ain in eighth day of Syria op - Türkiye News". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  14. ^ "Turkish forces capture key border town as troops push further into Syria". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  15. ^ "Violent battles continue in areas in Ras Al-Ayn city and its countryside and in the vicinity of Tal Abyad city in conjunction with heavy ground shelling witnessed in the area" Syrian Human rights 14/10/2019http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=143884
  16. ^ "Turkish-led forces advance into Syrian border town, fighting rages". Reuters. 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  17. ^ "Fourteen killed after Turkish strike in Ras al Ain". Reuters. 2019-10-13. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  18. ^ "kurdish-led-forces-retake-most-of-key-city-in-northern-syria" Almar News 2019-10-13 https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/kurdish-led-forces-retake-most-of-key-city-in-northern-syria/ Archived 2020-09-25 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ "Syrian Observatory: SDF captures Syria's Ras al-Ain". Al Arabiya English. 2019-10-15. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  20. ^ "Kurdish-led fighters battle pro-Turkish forces for control of key border town". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  21. ^ Seligman, Lara. "Kurdish Fighters Mount Counterattack Using Network of Tunnels". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  22. ^ "Turkey Gains Ground in Syria's Ras al-Ain". Asharq AL-awsat. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  23. ^ O'Connor, Tom (17 October 2019). "U.S. says it made a "ceasefire" deal in Syria, Turkey and Kurdish forces reject the claim". Newsweek.
  24. ^ McKernan, Bethan; Borger, Julian (2019-10-17). "Pence and Erdoğan agree on ceasefire plan but Kurds reject 'occupation'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  25. ^ Kareem Fahim, Sarah Dadouch and Asser Khattab "Despite Cease Fire Fighting Continues in Syrian Border Town" The Sentinel Source 19/10/19 https://www.sentinelsource.com/news/national_world/despite-cease-fire-fighting-continues-in-syrian-border-town/article_f75cfd32-9339-5d5b-9d44-82ff352490f8.html Archived 2019-10-20 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^ "The Latest: Reports of fighting despite Syria Cease Fire" The Sacramento Bee October 18, 2019 https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/article236396868.html
  27. ^ "Turkey faces scrutiny over alleged use of chemical weapons on children in Syria". The Independent. 2019-10-19. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  28. ^ Hisham Arafat "Turkish airstrikes continue on Syria’s Serekaniye despite ceasefire" October 18-2019 https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/b80c0313-5161-4b12-9342-d6c4964cceca
  29. ^ Ensor, Josie; Sanchez, Raf (2019-10-18). "Fighting continues along Turkish-Syrian border despite US-brokered pause in hostilities". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  30. ^ "Kurdish, Turkey Forces Clash During Shaky Ceasefire | Time". web.archive.org. 2019-10-19. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  31. ^ "Syria-Turkey ceasefire: Live updates". www.cnn.com. October 19, 2019.
  32. ^ a b "Breaking: Turkish backed militants attack Syrian Army Near Border City In New Bid To Advance" https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-turkish-backed-militants-attack-syrian-army-near-border-city-in-new-bid-to-advance/ Archived 2020-10-01 at the Wayback Machine
  33. ^ "A cadre of the "medical team" in "Ras Al-Ayn": the pro-Turkey factions targeted the city's hospital .. there are civilian casualties scattered in the streets due to the Turkish shelling we do not know their number .. and some of the injuries died due to the siege and shortage of potentials • The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights". The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. 2019-10-19. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  34. ^ "German man fighting for Kurds killed in Syria – DW – 11/05/2019". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  35. ^ Wladimir van Wilgenburg "German SDF fighter killed in Turkish airstrike". 29 October 2019
  36. ^ "Kurds Begin to Evacuate Besieged Syrian Border Town | Time". web.archive.org. 2019-10-20. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  37. ^ "Syria's Kurdish forces are reportedly withdrawing from the Turkish border". SBS News. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  38. ^ a b "Kurdish fighters evacuate from besieged Syrian town". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  39. ^ "Kurdish fighters evacuate from besieged Syrian town". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  40. ^ "Kurdish fighters withdraw from besieged Syria town". Jordan Times. 2019-10-20. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  41. ^ Seligman, Lara. "Turkish Proxies Appear to Be Using White Phosphorus in Syria". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  42. ^ "Turkish forces allegedly burn Kurdish boy with white phosphorus". 2019-10-18. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  43. ^ "OPCW abandons Turkey chemical attack investigation". Morning Star. 2019-11-03. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
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