2018 Syrian–Turkish border clashes
skirmish between Turkey and DFNS 31 October – 6 November 2018
The 2018 Syrian-Turkish border clashes began on 31 October 2018 when the Turkish Armed Forces began to shell People's Protection Units (YPG) positions near the cities of Kobani and Tell Abyad as well as surrounding villages. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been leading a separatist movement and carrying out dozens of terrorist attacks in Turkey for over 40 years.
Background
Journalist Ahmet S. Yayla stated that the operation by Turkey may have been carried out to relocate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and al-Qaeda elements from Idlib in light of the demilitarization agreement between Russia and Turkey. Salih Muslim, the former co-chairman of the Democratic Union Party, stated that Russia and Turkey were plotting to send jihadists to fight against the YPG as part of the agreement. On 30 October 2018, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said to a public gathering prior to the operation, "The plan is to remove the YPG, collect their heavy weaponry and finally allow the real Manbij people to be in full control of their city."
Clashes
The Turkish military reported that four Kurdish terrorists were killed and another six were injured in the shelling of YPG positions. The Syrian Democratic Forces states that the attack had temporarily halted operations against ISIL near the Iraqi border. The Syrian Democratic Forces also stated that Turkish strikes were not limited to Kobani, but surrounding areas along the Syria–Turkey border held by Rojava. On 30 October 2018, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed to clear the Eastern Euphrates region of Kurdish separatists, while on 29 October Turkish forces had targeted YPG positions along the Euphrates river. In response to the attack, the SDF redeployed multiple units from the Deir Ez Zor region to confront the Turkish forces. In retaliation, the YPG stated that it destroyed a Turkish vehicle and released a video of the attack; however, the statement has not been acknowledged by the Turkish government.
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