| Operation Claw-Sword | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theTurkish–Kurdish conflict,Syrian Civil war, theTurkish involvement in the Syrian civil war, and theSyrian–Turkish border clashes during the Syrian Civil War | |||||
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| Belligerents | |||||
 Turkey | In Syria: Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria Syrian Arab RepublicIn Iraq:  PKK | ||||
| Units involved | |||||
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| Casualties and losses | |||||
Per SOHR:[4] Per Turkey: None | Per SOHR:[5] 30 killedPer Turkey:[6]  364 killed or wounded | ||||
| 10 Syrian civilians killed by Turkish shelling and airstrikes[7] 5 Syrian and 2 Turkish civilians killed by SDF/SAA shelling[8] | |||||
On 20 November 2022 theTurkish Air Force launchedOperation Claw-Sword (Turkish:Pençe-Kılıç Operasyonu), a series ofairstrikes againstSyrian Democratic Forces andSyrian Army positions in NorthernSyria (inAleppo,Raqqa,al-Hasaka) and againstKurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) positions in NorthernIraq.[9][10] The airstrikes were launched following the2022 Istanbul bombing on 13 November, that theTurkish government say was conducted byKurdish separatists.[9]
On 20 November around midnight local time Turkish aircraft launched a series of airstrikes across northern Syria and Iraq, killing 36 SDF fighters and Syrian soldiers andHawar News Agency reporter, Essam Abdullah in Syria.[11][12]
On 21 November two Turkish civilians were killed inKarkamış, by a rocket attack believed to be conducted by the SDF.[13] Also according to SOHR one Turkish soldier was killed and 7 were injured in Bab Al-Salama crossing on the borders with Turkey, after shelling from Kurdish and regime areas in northern Aleppo.[14]
On 22–23 November Turkish Air Force targeted the oil and gas energy infrastructure inal-Hasakah Governorate.[15][16] Turkish Air Force targeted the town of Makman in north westDeir ez-Zor Governorate.[17][18]
On 23 November clashes broke out between forces of theManbij Military Council and forces of the Turkish-backedSyrian National Army on the Jamousiya and Sayada fronts in the Manbij countryside.[3] Eight SDF fighters were killed after Turkish aircraft targeted the vicinity ofAl-Hawl refugee camp.[19]
On 27 November Turkish Air Force resumed bombing SDF and Syrian Army positions in Northern Syria after a three-day halt in airstrikes.[20] During these attacks five Syrian soldiers were killed after a Turkish drone struck their military post, near the Kashtar village in theAfrin countryside.[21]
On 29–30 November Syrian government forces and Iranian backed militias deployedT-90 tanks, troop carriers and hundreds of soldiers to the northernAleppo countryside.Russian forces established a military post south of the village ofAblah, consisting of dozens of soldiers and field artillery.[22]
On 6 December,Al Jazeera reported that Turkey had set a deadline of 2 weeks forSDF forces to leave the areas ofManbij,Tell Rifat andKobani and that a failure to do so would result in a new ground offensive.[23]
On 19 December,Turkish forces resumed their joint patrols with Russian forces under thesecond Northern Syria Buffer Zone, which had been suspended since the start of the operation.[24]
Turkey: PresidentTayyip Erdogan said that Turkey's air operations against a Kurdish militia in northern Syria were only the beginning and it would launch a land operation when convenient.[25] On 28 November, Turkish officials announced that Turkish forces would need 'just days' to be ready for a ground incursion into Syria.[26]
AANES:Syrian Democratic Forces commander-in-chiefMazloum Abdi suspendedmilitary operations against theIslamic State to focus on preparations for a potential Turkish ground incursion into northern Syria. Abdi said he believed the city ofKobanî would become targeted by Turkish forces.[27] On 28 November, Mazloum Abdi toldReuters that SDF forces had noted Turkish reinforcements accumulating on the border with Syria and inalready occupied parts of Syria.[26]
Iran:Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave a warning to Erdogan. Stating that a military conflict would "harmful" for Turkey and Syria and the entire region.[28] A Lebanese official speaking toAP claimed that Iran was attempting to lead amediation by arranging a meeting between the Syrian PresidentBashar al-Assad and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. However, a senior Turkish government official denied any Iranian mediation, saying that Tehran was "antagonistic" toward Turkey in Syria and that it was Russia that pushed Turkey toward reconciliation but that there was "no progress at all."[29]
Russia: Russian presidential envoy in Syria, Alexander Lavrentyev, called on Turkey to show restraint in its use of "excessive" military force in Syria and to keep tensions from escalating.[30]
United States: ThePentagon opposes any military action by Turkey according toVOA.[31] National Security Council spokespersonJohn Kirby said during a news conference: Turkey has a legitimate right to defend itself and its citizens, but added cross-border operations "might force a reaction by some of our SDF partners that would limit and constrain their ability to fight againstISIS...and we want to be able to keep the pressure on ISIS."[32] TheDepartment of Defense of the United States urged de-escalation, stating it was "deeply concerned" by Turkish actions in Iraq and Syria, and with Turkish airstrikes nearcoalition bases. The statement ended with a statement on the discussion of aceasefire.[33]
United Nations: The UN has stated that all parties should abide by international law and maximum restraint.[34] The UN has taken the position there is no military solution to the conflict in Syria.[35]
Pro-Kurdish protests were held inCyprus, Germany and Sweden, following the airstrikes.[36][37] Danish politicianNikolaj Villumsen,Austrian politicianAndreas Schieder andThe Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL have condemned the airstrikes.[38][39][40]Human Rights Watch stated that the airstrikes "risk making an already unbearable situation much worse for Kurds, Arabs, and other communities" and "displaced families, caused significant power cuts and fuel shortages, forced aid organizations to temporarily suspend certain activities, and led to school and work disruptions."[41]
Pentagon opposed to military action. Washington is known to have long opposed a major incursion by Turkey because it would disrupt the stability in the region.
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