2017

February 28, 2017

Reuters: Manbij is Turkey‘s next step in Syria operation, Erdogan says

2018

January-March 2018

Operation Olive Branch in Afrin takes place

January 27, 2018

Reuters: Turkey‘s Erdogan says military operation to make big sweep east across Syria

May 7, 2018

Al-Jazeera: Turkey’s Erdogan says he will launch Syria operation to clear border from ‘terrorists’ as he campaigns for re-election

October 31, 2018

TRT: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara is ready to launch military operation in northern Syria to root out terror groups on eastern Euphrates

December 12

Stars and Stripes: Turkey will launch a new military operation against U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria “within a few days,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, a move likely to strain ties further between NATO allies Turkey and the U.S.

Bloomberg: Turkey will start a new military operation against U.S.-backed Kurdish militants in Syria within days, Erdogan says

December 13

Reuters: Hours after Turkey‘s Erdogan says Ankara will launch an operation against U.S.-backed Kurds in Syria in a few days, Pentagon says unilateral military action is ‘unacceptable’.

TRT: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirms that Ankara will launch a new military operation within the next few days in northern Syria against the YPG, which is the PKK terror group’s Syrian offshoot

December 14

Liz Sly: Erdogan & Trump talk on the phone. “The two leaders agreed on the need for more efficient cooperation over Syria, without giving details” (Reuters.) Comes after Erdogan threatened an operation against U.S.-backed Kurds within “days.”

December 15

TRT: Turkey deploys troops to its border with Syria, following President Recep Tayyip Erdogan‘s announcement of a new border operation east of the Euphrates

December 17

Turkish President says Turkey’s military operation in northern Syria will continue until the last of the terrorists are cleared. “Now it’s time for the east of the Euphrates. I told last week that we are going to start a military operation in Syria.”

Reuters: Turkey may start new Syria operation at any moment, Erdogan says

December 21, 2018

Reuters: Turkey to delay Syria operation, Erdogan welcomes U.S. decision to withdraw troops

2019

January 8, 2019

Daily Sabah: Presidential Adviser Kalın is National Security Adviser Bolton’s counterpart, President Erdoğan says, adds that a Turkish operation into northern Syria could happen any moment after the US delegation’s visit.

January 10

Reuters: Turkey says military operation in Syria not dependent on U.S. pull-out

January 22

Turkey to push forces into eastern Syria if promises not kept

April 8

Turkey’s Erdogan to discuss possible operation in Syria with Putin: RIA

July 22

Reuters: Turkey will launch operation in Syria if safe zone not established: minister

August 4

Reuters: Turkey will carry out operation in northern Syria: Ankara

August 5

Turkish President “We will conduct a military operation east of the Euphrates.”

August 6

AFP: Turkish President threatens operation against Syria Kurds ‘very soon’

August 31

AFP: Erdogan vows Syria operation ‘in weeks’ if Turkey has no control of ‘safe zone’

Ragip Soylu: Erdogan also threatens a military operation in northern Syria if the US doesn’t allow Turkish soldiers in the safe zone in next couple weeks.

September 5

“Turkey can no longer afford to be a mere onlooker to the situation east of the Euphrates” – Turkish Presidency

September 8

*first joint patrol on the ground in eastern Syria*

September 17, 2019

Turkey is “ready to begin operation.”

Turkey may launch an operation within two weeks, Ankara says

Al-Masdar: “If no specific measures are taken there [in the safe zone] within two weeks, we can start our own operation,” Erdogan said

September 20, 2019

MEE: Turkey to deploy doctors ahead of military operation: The move came as Erdogan had threatened a military offensive in northern Syria if the US didn’t honour a “safe zone” agreement in two weeks

September 21, 2019

Reuters (first report): Turkey is ready to act on southern border

Reuters: Turkey is prepared for possible Syria border operation, Erdogan says

TASS: Turkey ends preparations for operation

Turkish Consulate Houston: “Turkey has completed all of its preparations along its Syria border for an operation east of the Euphrates.”

September 24

*Turkey and US conduct second land patrol in eastern Syria*

Erdogan at UN shows map of eastern Syria safe zone, says it will rid eastern Syria of “terrorists.”

September 26

Turkey threatens to enter northeast Syria

September 28

We are not satisfied with the current state and we have said this to the Americans, clearly,” Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu told reporters in New York. Turkey says that it “detailed the safe zone should have an operation center, joint patrols, should clear the area of terrorists and the establishment of facilities for residents. It should also ensure the return of Syrian refugees.”

Turkey and US hold seventh flight over Syria.

Turkey proposes to take over eastern Syria safe zone and invest $25 billion. “The cost of the project is expected to be around $25.9 billion. “Turkey will hope to build some 200,000 residential buildings as well as police, hospital, government and school facilities. About 140 villages with an estimated 5,000 inhabitants as well as 10 districts hosting about 30,000 residents will be constructed. In each village, there will be 1,000 houses, two mosques, two schools with 16 classrooms, a youth center and a sports facility.”

October 2

Turkey threatens to set up unilateral safe zone



October 3

“Turkey says it will not allow terror corridor to be established in its southern part.”

“US is warning Turkey that it could pull all American troops out of Syria if Ankara launches threatened invasion in NE Syria against US-backed Kurdish fighters who were instrumental in defeating ISIS. Turkey says it’s posturing.”

October 5

Turkey announces it is calling its upcoming operation “Spring of Peace,” sometimes also termed “fountain of peace” or “well of peace” in various media.”We have completed our preparations and action plan, the necessary instructions were given. It is maybe today or tomorrow the time to clear the way for [our] peace efforts which is set and the process for them was started. We will carry out a ground and air operation,” Erdogan said. “Our aim is, I underline it, to shower east of Euphrates with peace,” he added. Anadolu noted: Turkey rid an area of 4,000 square kilometers (1,544 square miles) in Syria of terrorist groups in two separate cross-border operations, Erdogan said.

October 6

Trump says the US is withdrawng

October 9

Turkey begins airstrikes in 181 targets.