Turkey launches troop offensive in northeastern Syria

As President Recep Erdogan announced the start of a Turkish operation in northeastern Syria on Wednesday, Oct. 9, the Kurdish-led SDF reported that Turkish warplanes were striking civilian areas. Erdogan stated that he wants to create “a safe haven cleared of Kurdish militias to house a million Syrian refugees.”

DEBKAfile’s military sources report that the Turkish army’s short-term goal is to establish a 100km long security belt, 30km deep, along the Syrian-Turkish border. (See attached map.) At the moment, Turkish air strikes are directed against Kurdish YPG militia’s bases and ammunition stores, while shelling them from across the border. The Turkish air force is also bombing Ras al-Ayn in the Hasakeh region east of the River Euphrates. Turkish ground forces and tanks crossed into Syria Wednesday night.
Kurdish reports of Turkish aerial bombardment appeared to be inflated in the hope of bringing the Americans to their aid before the Turkish army crossed over. In the initial stage of the offensive, our military sources don’t expect Erdogan to overshoot the limits of the security zone, on whose creation he and President Donald Trump agreed in their phone call on Saturday, Oct. 7. It was after that call, that Trump announced the withdrawal of around 100 US troops from two observation posts in northeast Syria out of the way of the Turkish plan. This decision was sharply and widely criticized. He also warned Erdogan that he would “obliterate” the Turkish economic if the Kurds were attacked.

There were a number of military movements related to Syria in the course of Yom Kippur:

  • Iran has embarked on an unannounced large-scale military exercise on its border with Turkey, with the participation of special forces, Iranian chief of staff Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi announced.
  • A small US force made its way to the north Syrian town of Kobani near Aleppo to head off a possible Turkish attack. The force consists of six US armored vehicles.
  • Pro-Turkish Turkmani militias have massed near the Syrian-Turkish border to support the forthcoming Turkish assault on Tal Abyad.
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65 thoughts on “Turkey launches troop offensive in northeastern Syria

  • Oct 9, 2019 @ 20:28 at 20:28
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    why do you name your own articles “www.debka.com/__trashed-8/”???!!!!

    • Oct 9, 2019 @ 20:49 at 20:49
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      muslim nazi dictator erdogan wants to exterminate the muslim kurds like the sultan exterminated the christian armenians and Greek between 1905-1922 in the armenian genocide

      • Oct 9, 2019 @ 21:08 at 21:08
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        Turkey’s Plan Is Wrong, Dirty, & Won’t Work? Watch, See, & Believe!

      • Oct 10, 2019 @ 0:08 at 0:08
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        Yalan söylüyorsun Türkiye’ye düşmanlığın gerçekleri görmeni engelliyor

        • Oct 10, 2019 @ 15:13 at 15:13
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          Hadi be, nasıl anladın?

          • Oct 10, 2019 @ 17:12 at 17:12
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            hastir derler bizde

      • Oct 10, 2019 @ 22:45 at 22:45
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        You are a stupid liar. Because you wrote it without any research.

      • Oct 10, 2019 @ 22:56 at 22:56
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        There was no Nazi among the Turks. Napoleon, Hitler, USA Presidents, Prime Minister of Israel, SDG and YPG Nazis.

        • Oct 11, 2019 @ 0:11 at 0:11
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          The Turks were in bed during WWII. You are a stooge who knows nothing. Go back to your gulag comrade

    • Oct 9, 2019 @ 21:06 at 21:06
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      DD… President Trump Has Exploited Mideast Turkey Power Myths & Kurdish’s Metaphors At Tal Tamir! The Real Objective For Kurd Forces Temba Tomahawks With Jaled At Tanagra Arms Open Wide!

    • Oct 10, 2019 @ 10:00 at 10:00
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      Dear Debka
      where did you get that from?

    • Oct 10, 2019 @ 10:04 at 10:04
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      “dear Debka”
      where did you get that name from?

    • Oct 10, 2019 @ 14:42 at 14:42
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      It was originally an article about the newest Iranian Drone – the Trashed-8!

  • Oct 9, 2019 @ 20:36 at 20:36
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    Another “fine day” in the M.E.

    • Oct 10, 2019 @ 12:40 at 12:40
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      @strike force:ahahahah an area full of the adepts of the religion of peace

  • Oct 9, 2019 @ 20:38 at 20:38
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    Ever Since Citizen Donald Trump in 2015, Became Candidate Donald J. Trump in 2016 & 45th President Donald John Trump in 2017 Trump Has Been In A Real War With The Media!

    • Oct 10, 2019 @ 10:05 at 10:05
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      Yup

  • Oct 9, 2019 @ 20:41 at 20:41
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    man all of the east,north east side of the middle east is fukced bad…. yemen,iraq,syria,iraq,lebanon …
    one big fat nuke what be awesome…… i always wonder if the State of Israel was in europe or N.A …. would the middle east be the same sh!thole it is now?

    • Oct 9, 2019 @ 20:57 at 20:57
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      Can’t answer that but can point out that it was a s… h… well before there was an Israel. Sadly, such violent societies,

    • Oct 9, 2019 @ 21:23 at 21:23
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      Lebanon With Love… Right On, Just Imagine How Great The Middle East Could Be With Iran’s Shiia Regime Being Replaced By Remarkable Persian Shiia Secular Leaders In Sharing Shiia Charity With All Muslims, Christians, Jewish & All Cultures? Just Like Egypt, Jordan, & Arabia Cooperates With Israel On Yom Kippur!

      • Oct 10, 2019 @ 1:10 at 1:10
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        This fantasy has nothing to do with turkish-kurds problems and current war, and israel-arabs problems.

    • Oct 10, 2019 @ 4:50 at 4:50
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      depends. If it still had the Arabs/Muslims in it then yes. They turn every place they come to into a s…hole. Just look at Europe in those places where they’ve arrived.

    • Oct 10, 2019 @ 12:04 at 12:04
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      “…… i always wonder if the State of Israel was in europe or N.A …. would the middle east be the same sh!thole it is now?”

      @ “lebanon with love”,

      Here’s the answer to your question: Hezbollahstan (formerly known as Lebanon).

  • Oct 9, 2019 @ 20:41 at 20:41
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    Turkey & Global Media Does Not “Understand Trump Traps” Are a Stunningly Effective Against One-Sided Media Coverage Designed To Prop Up Anyone Opposing Trump & Exposed Iran-Turk-Russian Alliance!

  • Oct 9, 2019 @ 20:45 at 20:45
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    wrong debka; Trump did not threaten erdogan to ‘obliterate th. Turkish economy if the Kurds were attacked.’ no, Trump’s threat is if “any American military were harmed Turkey’s economy would be devastated.’
    – 3000 USA army/marines special forces to remain in Syria.
    – USA to maintain air superiority in the region & ground support for the brave Kurds.

    get some American English translators on staff for proper intel dissemination.

    MAGA – You Know You Love It! ? ?

    • Oct 9, 2019 @ 21:25 at 21:25
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      Yup. Been pointing out Debka’s need for decent English translators for years. At $20/month per subscription, they should be able to afford it. Look at their hyperlink. Ridiculous.

      • Oct 11, 2019 @ 0:15 at 0:15
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        The Turks were in bed during WWII. You are a stooge who knows nothing. Go back to your gulag comrade

  • Oct 9, 2019 @ 20:52 at 20:52
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    The Shadow Knows… Agree, Just Another “Media Trump Triumph Trap Snap Back”! On Globalists Goellbelism, Communism, Radical Islam, & Fascism Being Challenged Worldwide & EU Too!

  • Oct 9, 2019 @ 20:56 at 20:56
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    President Trump Has Been Correct To Point Out When Reporters Have Acted As “A Bunch Of Idiots” Focused On Gossip, Made Up Sources, & Later Requiring Retractions Of Media Representing His Political Opponents & Economic Elites!

  • Oct 9, 2019 @ 21:04 at 21:04
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    Erdogan needs to be Removed from office and his government abolished. He’s Russia and Iran’s “Little boy”

    • Oct 9, 2019 @ 21:31 at 21:31
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      Infidel Strong… Good Point, Wait Until Body Bags Of Turks Come Home to Istanbul & Then Watch A Coup That Betrays Erdogan’s Iran Friends? And Thanksgiving Is Just 6 Weeks Away Serving Turkey On The American Way Day Of Thanks To A Higher Supreme Being Power?

      • Oct 9, 2019 @ 22:06 at 22:06
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        You know that there won’t be many Turkish soldiers doing the dieing. No it will be their idiot Henchmen that they trained in Turkey to do their bidding in Syria such as Afrin and Al Bab. The Turks support them with artillery and air support when they are actually allowed to fly over the battlefield but rarely if ever use their own troops and they may not even use their armour this time after losing 10 tanks at Al Bab. Those henchmen would be the 25000 or so not so well trained fools that are loosely called the Free Syrian Army! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Syrian_Army

    • Oct 10, 2019 @ 10:13 at 10:13
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      Russia will soon remove the Turkeys in Turkey

    • Oct 11, 2019 @ 0:16 at 0:16
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      The Turks were in bed during WWII. You are a stooge who knows nothing. Go back to your gulag comrade

  • Oct 9, 2019 @ 21:09 at 21:09
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    US could bring turkish forces at the beginning to tackle ISIS. At least, -today- it would help people over there not to immigrate in this cold winter. US just wanted to have war… Supplied some weapons to Kurds then green lighted to Turks to attack. Thanks AMERICA-TRUMP-ENGLAND-GERMANY-RUSSIA… What are you guys going to gain by washing your hands with Kurdish Blood?

    • Oct 9, 2019 @ 21:37 at 21:37
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      Time For Kurds To Unite & Fight Against Syria, Iraq, Turkey & Iran & Create An Independent Kurdistan That Israel Would Recognize In A UN New York Minute & Many Nations Would Welcome & Follow From Jerusalem

      • Oct 10, 2019 @ 2:45 at 2:45
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        Amen sultan. It is hard to generate sympathy for the kurds when they have so little sympathy for each other. If they could cooperate, they would be an irresistible force, but no, constant infighting. That is the lesson to be learned from US withdrawal.

      • Oct 10, 2019 @ 15:06 at 15:06
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        Hail, Sultan al Everything! You have proclaimed the obvious, which means the powers that be will obviously ignore it!

        After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, borders were determined by European colonialists, paying scant attention to the interests of the Kurds. Because these artificially drawn border lines paid no attention to ethnic, tribal, religious or linguistic considerations, the foundations of future strife were laid. That strife is now playing out.

        No question, the time for the establishment of Kurdistan is at hand. How much more blood must be shed before the obvious becomes the solution?

    • Oct 10, 2019 @ 3:22 at 3:22
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      Agree with you. Situation is FUBAR “fu—ed up beyond all relief.” Erdowan is a dictator now … his policy with respect to the US and Russia changes monthly. Friend one day, enemy the next.

      Turkish maneuvers with Iran are very disturbing. They really don’t belong in NATO… but keeping them in “keeps your enemies closer.”

      All that aside Israel will likely defend and/or support the Kurds strongly . The Kurds are Great allies and deserve protection. Israel and the Kurds are our only real Middle East ally.

  • Oct 9, 2019 @ 21:52 at 21:52
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    If America kicks Turkey out of NATO and applies sanctions they just going to drive Turkey onto the open arms of Russia and China. This was very poor diplomacy on our part, we knew that this was a national security issue for Turkey so we should have managed it to prevent this fracture.

    • Oct 9, 2019 @ 23:01 at 23:01
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      Jackie Ruby… Turkey Sign An Alliance with Iran & Russia they made that move and let them Live with that Fracture Too. This is why Kurds the Majority Of Populations In Eastern Turkey Should Rebel & Join Kurds in North Syria Forming Kurdistan & Would Be Reliable NATO Allies With Air Bases Replacing Turkey In NATO!

      • Oct 9, 2019 @ 23:22 at 23:22
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        Today the mighty Turkish Army is undertaken a operation to liberate and secure a safe zone for the refugees. The dogs are running from our forces. This humanitarian action underscores the commitment of Turkey to the safe return of the displaced people to Syria and to ensure that our Muslim brothers are protected from these groups that have been established to weaken our nation.

  • Oct 9, 2019 @ 22:17 at 22:17
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    Anti-Semites blame everything on Jews as much as the media blame everything on Trump.

  • Oct 9, 2019 @ 23:20 at 23:20
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    JRubin… Quite Amazing Mongol-China Conquerors of the Russian Caucasus, Syria, & Turkey In 1260! In 14th Century The Turkish Ottoman Wars Into Europe, Eurasia & Asia. The Russians in the 16th-17th Conquest of Siberia and Turkish Crimean Wars of 20th Century? Well, Europeans Remove Turkey From Mideast During WWI! Yeah, A Turkey, Russia, China Is A Kind Of Historic Alliance Of Enemies Don’t Forget? Islamic, Russian Orthodox & Chinese Atheists Don’t Either!

  • Oct 9, 2019 @ 23:27 at 23:27
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    Trump wins! Now the nationalization of Trump Towers in Istanbul Şişli is off the table.

    • Oct 9, 2019 @ 23:38 at 23:38
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      KKSIvan… Brilliant Trump, A Kurdistan Majority Population In Eastern Turkey needs Protection from NATO that can Remove Western Turkey from NATO & Cut Off Russia Ships to Mediterranean & Mideast Making Crimea Naval Base Useless With Syria Ports as well! New NATO Air & Naval Bases In Kurdistan Eastern Turkey Be Protected too! Kurd’s are like Israeli’s Fierce Fighters!

    • Oct 10, 2019 @ 0:27 at 0:27
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      Lies, all lies Turkey comes in peace. Turkey is in Syria to protect the refugees and defeat ISIS. Its important to remember that we are the good guys here.

      • Oct 10, 2019 @ 2:01 at 2:01
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        Only good thing one can say about Turkey, they make a fine meal on thanksgiving. gobble gobble gobble!

      • Oct 10, 2019 @ 3:01 at 3:01
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        turkey is in syria to grab land and silence political opposition to erdogan’s regime.

  • Oct 10, 2019 @ 4:35 at 4:35
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    The Kurd’s are going to need a Dien Bien Phu.

  • Oct 10, 2019 @ 9:07 at 9:07
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    That is the cost to pay when you are an ally of the US, count on them fight and die for them. Beware Israel. Your turn might come next. Trump will sell you for a handshake with Khamenei.

    • Oct 10, 2019 @ 9:51 at 9:51
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      And a lovely picture!!!

  • Oct 10, 2019 @ 10:40 at 10:40
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    What Is Required Is A Reliable Partners With A Little Head. Circumstances, People, Leaders, & nations Change! One Can Wallow In The Past Or Come Aboard & Do Historically What Kurds Have Been Pretty Good At, Fierce Fighters! A Smaller Turkey Accommodating A Allied Partner Kurdistan IS More Powerful Than Fighting Within While Iran Expands Violence Among Both? Kurds Joining Turkey & Syrian Kurds Leaving Iran Would Hurt Iran More & Turkey A Better Reliable Allied! Thttps://www.wsj.com/articles/iraqs-kurdish-regional-government-set-to-approve-kobani-reinforcement-plan-1413978673

  • Oct 10, 2019 @ 10:57 at 10:57
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    Well done President Trump. The neocons must be very very upset.

  • Oct 10, 2019 @ 11:55 at 11:55
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    Turkey seizing land which doesn’t belong to it…………………..just like the Muslims did under Mohammad.
    Remember the movie “Midnight Express” from the latter part of the 1970’s?

  • Oct 10, 2019 @ 19:54 at 19:54
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    Is Turkey still in NATO? Kind of strange things these days. Stateless people scattered before the armies of Armageddon.

  • Oct 11, 2019 @ 8:22 at 8:22
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    There is no “Kurdish region” in Syria. I know Israel wants a puppet state there against to Turkey. But make sure you don’t have that power. We Turks wont let it. Just watch

  • Oct 20, 2019 @ 17:33 at 17:33
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    TERRRÖRİST LİST: ISİS PKK EL KAİDE YPG PYD

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