Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses. Share the link of this article with your facebook friends

 

Syrian Forces Deployed to Stop the Turkish Advance, 250,000 People Became Displaced, Hundreds of SDF Fighters Killed

October 15, 2019 

Editor's Note:

The following news stories are just examples of the daily horrors of war in Syria. Readers can find more detailed daily news stories at the sources below as well as many other sources in the internet. 

Site of Russian-Regime air strikes on Jabal Al-Zawiya, Idlib, Syria, October 15, 2019	Turkish jets in northeaster Syrian skies, October 14, 2019

Civilians fleeing the war zone in northeastern Syria, October 14, 2019	Turkish bombardment on Ras Al-Ayn town, October 14, 2019

 

Turkey neutralizes 2 PKK (fighters) in northern Iraq

PKK (fighters) often use northern Iraq as base to plan cross-border terror attacks in Turkey

Burak Bir   | 15.10.2019

Anadolu, ANKARA --

Turkish fighter jets neutralized two PKK (fighters) in northern Iraq, the country's National Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday.

Air-backed operations were carried out in the Gara region by the Turkish Armed Forces with support from the spy agency National Intelligence Service (MIT), the ministry said on Twitter.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the (fighters) in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

PKK (fighters) often use northern Iraq as a base to plan cross-border terror attacks in Turkey.

On May 27, Turkey launched Operation Claw against the PKK in the Hakurk region of northern Iraq, followed by its second and third phases in July and late August.

Over 400 PKK (fighters) have been "neutralized" in northern Iraq over the past four months, according to the ministry.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

Turkey 'neutralizes' 595 terrorists in Syria operation

Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria last week to eliminate terrorists from region

Zehra Nur Duz   | 15.10.2019

Anadolu, ANKARA --

A total of 595 PKK/PYD-YPG (fighters) have been “neutralized” since the beginning of Turkey's operation in northern Syria, the National Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" to imply the (fighters) in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

The ministry updated the figure in a Twitter post.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate (fighters) from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

The following are news stories from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) website (http://www.syriahr.com/en/):

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“Regime’s” loaded-with-cluster-bombs shells kill a woman and her child in Jabal al-Zawiyah in conjunction with renewed Russian airstrikes target south of Idlib

SOHR, 14/10/2019

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the death of a woman and her child and the injury of others, in shelling carried out using shells carrying cluster bombs, targeting the al-Bara town in Jabal al-Zawiyah in Idlib countryside, and in the same context, the ground forces of the regime shelled al-Tah, al-Deir al-Gharbi, Tahtaya and al-Bara in the southern countryside of Idlib, and areas of Jabal al-Turkman in the northern countryside of Latakia, while the Jihadi factions launched missiles targeting Tallat al-Sawarikh in Khan Tuman area in the southern countryside of Aleppo, also the Russian warplanes carried out raids targeting al-Naqir village in the southern sector of Idlib countryside, also the Russian warplanes carried out several raids after midnight of yesterday targeting Jabal al-Arb’ein area near Ariha city south of Idlib, in conjunction with the flight of reconnaissance drones in the area but no information about casualties, while the regime forces shelled this morning the towns of Ma’aret Hurmah, Sheikh Mustafa, and Kafr Aweed in the southern countryside of Idlib.

And with the fall of more casualties, it rose to at least 4194, the number of people who were killed since the 30th of April 2019, the date of start of the most violent escalation in terms of aerial and ground bombardment, shelling, and targeting since Putin – Erdogan agreement, until the 14th of October 2019, and they are: 1076 civilians including 267 children and 191 citizen women, and they are 228 including 44 children and 43 women, and 8 of the civil defense and 5 of the ambulance team were killed in Russian aerial bombardment on the countryside of Idlib and Hama, and 88 including 19 women and 15 children were killed in the fall of barrel bombs, and 542 including 155 children, 91 women, and 5 members of the rescue teams were killed in targeting by regime’s warplanes, also 132 people including 24 women and 24 children were killed in a ground shelling carried out by the regime forces, and 81 citizens including 26 children and 15 women were killed in shelling by the factions on al-Suqaylabiyah, Qamhana, Al-Rasif, Al-Aziziyah, Karnaz, Jurin, Al-Nairab Camp, neighborhoods in Aleppo city and its southern countryside, while at least 1691 fighters were killed in the Russian airstrikes and the regime’s aerial and ground shelling including 1100 of the Jihadis, in addition to killing of 1434 members of the regime forces in targeting and shelling by jihadi groups and factions.

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Turkish Forces and their loyal factions carry out a new attack against Ras al-Ayn (Sari Kani) amid heavy and heavy and intense shelling

SOHR, 15/10/2019

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored a massive artillery shelling by the Turkish Forces on Tuesday morning targeting Ras al-Ayn (Sari Kani) city, amid attack they carried out with their loyal factions against the city, where the violent clashes are taking place between them against the Syria Democratic Forces from the side of Ras al-Ayn and the Industrial area, and the Syrian Observatory just published that the violent clashes continue in areas of Ras al-Ayn city and its western countryside, between the Turkish Forces and the factions loyal to them against the Syria Democratic Forces, in the framework of the counterattack started by the latter on Monday evening, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that SDF managed during their counteroffensive to regain control of the entire city of Ras al-Ayn, and now the presence of Turkish Forces is limited to the area of Ras al-Ayn crossing, also the Syria Democratic Forces regained control of Tal Half town in the vicinity of Ras al-Ayn, and the clashes left casualties and injuries among both parties, where bodies of fighters of the factions were seen in Tal Half and on the outskirts of Ras al-Ayn, and in the same context, places in al-Darbasiyah countryside were under Turkish aerial and ground shelling yesterday night and after midnight, the city also witnessed the flight of helicopters and warplanes yesterday evening, while the cautious calm returned to the area this morning, amid difficult humanitarian conditions experienced by people of the area, where many of them scattered are living out in the open in al-Ghannamiyyah village in the southern countryside of al-Darbasiyah.

And with the fall of more casualties, it rose to 135 at least, the number of members of the Syria Democratic Forces who were killed by Turkish air and land strikes and clashes against Turkish Forces and the factions loyal to, also it rose to 122, the number of the Syrian factions loyal to Ankara including 21 of the pro-Turkish cells who were killed in targeting and clashes against SDF, while 8 Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes and targeting, Turkey acknowledged the death of only 5 of them, amid information about other Turkish casualties at the Syrian – Turkish border, and the death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in critical situation, in addition to information about other casualties.

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120 hours of “Peace Spring”: the regime forces start deploying north of Syria… 250000 displaced people… Turkish warplanes bomb civilian convoy and leave tens of casualties and wounded… the death toll of the fighters rises to about 250

SOHR, 14/10/2019

Several developments witnessed in area of north and east of Syria over the past 24 hours, in conjunction with the completion of the Turkish military “Peace Spring” operation for its 120 hours (5 full days), where the period between yesterday evening and the moment witnessed rapid developments, with the arrival massive military mobilization by the Turkish Forces and their loyal factions in the countryside of Jarabulus city in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo, where information circulated about the intention of the factions and Turkey to launch a massive military operation against Manbij along with the arrival of the regime forces according to a Russian agreement with SDF, but calm is still the master of the situation there, also Ayn al-Arab (Kobani) city witnessed cautious calm amid the flight of warplanes in skies of the area, while the regime forces deployed in Tal Tamr area, also vehicles of the regime were seen heading to villages surrounding al-Jerniyyeh town in the western countryside of al-Raqqah.

The “Syrian Observatory” monitored this morning the regime forces began to deploy in the Brigade 93rd in Ayn Issa area north of al-Raqqah city at the contact lines with the Turkish Forces, where the regime forces were expelled from Ayn Issa more than 5 years ago by the “Islamic State” organization and returned now according to the Russian agreement with SDF, and in the same context, the regime forces deployed near al-Tabaqa city in al-Raqqah countryside in addition to their deployment north of Tal Tamr area, and the Syrian Observatory monitored this morning movements by the regime forces in the area between the cities of al-Hasakah and Ras al-Ayn (Sari Kani), where the regime forces are now located in an area about 6 km away of the Syrian – Turkish border, and they are expected to advance more towards Ras al-Ayn (Sari Kani) area.

These movements of a column of the regime forces from Tal Tamr town was monitored, in addition to movements south of al-Tabaqa city in al-Raqqah countryside, and these moves come within the framework of the Russian agreement with SDF, where the Syrian Observatory published yesterday evening that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that warplanes affiliated to the International Coalition targeted a column of the regime forces in Al-Rasafa area south-west of Al-Raqqah city, and no information about casualties was reported so far, where the column was in its way to Al-Tabqa city to be targeted by the International Coalition warplanes in Al-Rasafa area and the SOHR published short time ago, that the regime forces and the Russian forces have been deployed in the area separating between the areas of influence of Manbij Military Council, and between the areas of influence of the “Euphrates Shield” factions, between Al-Arima and Awn Al-Dadat in Aleppo countryside, and this deployment is to be completed later at the Syrian – Turkish border in Ayn Al-Arab area (Kobani), to be extended to Jazeera area and the Syrian – Iraqi border from the side of Al-Hasakah province, and this deal came according to Russian promises that it will work on returning the people who have been displaced from Afrin to their areas and that the Syria Democratic Forces to fight as ally forces with the Russians and the regime forces in Idlib province, while sources informed the Syrian Observatory that the U.S. forces are trying to hinder the Russian and regime forces deployment in the area.

Number of displaced people grows… More civilian casualties fall… and Turkish targeting for a “civilian convoy”

Since early morning of Wednesday, the 9th of October 2019, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored displacement of citizens from different areas in the area of east Euphrates, fleeing the Turkish military operation in the area, and according to the statistics of the SOHR; the number of displaced people has exceeded 250000 citizens who have displaced from their villages, towns and cities, where the citizens are continuing to displace from their areas from their areas in Tal Abyad, Ras al-Ayn, Darbasiyah, Ayn Al-Arab, Ayn Issa and other areas east of Euphrates at the border with Turkey, and some of them are scattered out in the open and most of them headed towards the depth of area, not to mention the difficult humanitarian conditions in the area due to the substantial increase in the number of displaced people and their destination, in addition to the interruption of water in al-Hasaka city, and the power stations are out of service due to shelling and clashes, and according to what the SOHR monitored on ground; cities, towns and villages became completely empty of population.

The repercussions of the Turkish military operation known as “Operation Peace Spring” were not only confined to pushing citizens to displace, but it also led to the fall of civilian casualties and injuries due to the indiscriminate shells launched by the Turkish forces on different areas, and according to what the SOHR documented; it rose to 69, the number of casualties who have been killed since the start of the Turkish military operation on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 9th of October 2019, they are 21 including a child, a female party official and 2 citizen women were killed in targeting by gunfire and field execution by faction loyal to Turkey on the highway south of Tal Abyad, 9 persons were killed in Turkish airstrikes that targeted Ras Al-Ayn city and its vicinity, 7 including 2 employees of the Autonomous Administration were killed in the ground shelling on the vicinity of Tal Abyad, 6 including a child, a woman, and 2 elderly men were killed in rocket shelling targeted the neighborhoods of Bashiriyya, Kaddour Biek, and al-Zaytuniyyeh in Qamishli city, 5 including a child were killed shelling on the vicinity of Ras Al-Ayn area in Al-Hasakah countryside, 4 were killed in the Turkish strikes on al-Bajiya village of Tal Abyad area, and 4 in Turkish airstrikes target the vicinity of Ras al-Ayn (Sari Kani) city, 3 including a female party official were killed by gunshot when they were heading towards Tal Abyad city, a female child was killed in shelling targeted al-Qahtaniyah countryside, and a man was targeted by Turkish snipers in Darbasiyah city, a woman and man were killed in Qameshly city by the Turkish Forces, and a man was killed in rocket shelling by the Turkish Forces on Qasr Dib village on the outskirts of al-Malkiyyeh, also 19 including at least 15 civilians were killed in airstrikes on the middle of Ras al-Ayn, including a woman and 2 of the press staff of local agencies

52 Areas in Turkey’s grip… aerial and ground bombardment and clashes… death toll of both parties increases

Over the past 5 days, the SOHR monitored the advancement of the Turkish forces and factions loyal to them under a cover of heavy aerial and ground firepower, in at least 49 areas from Tal Abyad to Ras Al-Ayn, where the Turkish forces imposed their control over Tal Abyad, Sluk, Mazra’aat al-Hammadi, Abu Qabr, Mazra’aat al-Masihi, Hamida, al-Mahida, al-Dadat, al-Yabseh, al-Meshrfeh, Tal Fender, Bir Ashiq, al-Terwaziyyeh, Lazkeh, Hwyran, al-Wastah, al-Ghajir, Shokan, al-Khalidiyah, al-Aridah, al-Nabhan, Om al-Jern, Ghzil, al-Hawi, Tababin, Jamous, Felyou, al-Zaydi, Al-al-Droubiyyah, Ayn al-Arous, Tal Antar, al-Badea’, and Jasem al-Ali in Tal Abyad area, and Mabrouka and Tal Halaf towns and the villages of Al-Kantari, Wadhah, Twijel, Alok, Kashto, Aksas, Tal Khanzir, al-Aziziyah, Al-Balujah, Abu Al-Soun, Hwish al-Naser, al-Na’eim, al-Salhiyyeh, al-Libiyyah, and Tal al-Banat, Kajo, al-Mada’en, and Nah, in Ras al-Ayn area.

While the number of casualties in the ranks of the Syria Democratic Forces, the military councils and the Internal Security Forces who were killed due to Turkish aerial and ground bombardment as well as clashes against the Turkish forces and their loyal factions since the start of the Turkish military operation on Wednesday afternoon rose to 133, while the number of casualties of the Syrian factions which are loyal to Ankara and the casualties of the pro-Turkey cells who were killed in targeting and clashes against the SDF during the same period, increased to 108 including 21 of the pro-Turkish cells who were killed in targeting and clashes against SDF, in addition to the killing of 8 Turkish soldiers in clashes and targeting, Turkey acknowledged the death of only 5 of them, amid information about other Turkish casualties at the Syrian – Turkish border, and the death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in critical situation, in addition to information about other casualties.

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