| 2019 Tell Rifaat clashes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofTurkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War,Operation Olive Branch and theSyrian Civil War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 600–1,200 | 200–450 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
 4 killed, 2 injured (per SOHR)[7][8] 8 killed(perSOHR)[4][9] 40 killed(per SDF)[1] |  23 killed (per Turkey)[7] | ||||||
The2019 Tell Rifaat Clashes were a military confrontation betweenTurkey and alliedFree Syrian Army groups against the KurdishPeople's Protection Units (YPG) in early May 2019.
The clashes began after two Turkish soldiers were killed on May 4, 2019, in a confrontation with the YPG, and one soldier was injured. In retaliation, theTurkish Defense Ministry claimed to have killed a total of 23 YPG fighters. Following the incident, a Turkish official toldReuters that a larger operation would be launched "if necessary."[7]
On 4 May 2019, theSyrian National Army (SNA) announced it had initiated an operation against the YPG in the villages nearTell Rifaat. The SNA initially managed to capture the three villages ofMar'anaz,Al-Malikiyah, and Shawarighat al Arz, facing little resistance.[10] After taking the villages the SNA stated “Our aspiration is to reach Tel Rifaat and what is beyond it.”[11] However, subsequently, due to heavy shelling by SDF as well as pro-government forces and a large number of landmines in the area, the SNA and the Turkish Armed Forces were forced to withdraw and the Kurdish-led forces recaptured all three villages.[4][12]
The following day, it was reported that the offensive had been cancelled in favor of more negotiations between Turkey andRussia to set up a joint demilitarized zone in the area.[5]
On 18 May 2019, new fighting erupted in the Tell Rifaat area,[13] with five rebels and one civilian being killed.[14]On 9 June 2019, fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces attacked Turkish troops, killing 2 soldier and wounding 7. In response, the Turkish Armed Forces responded days later with shelling.[8]
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