By SETH J. FRANTZMAN
June 2019
US says it is training up to 110,000 SDF fighters
Pentagon IG report, second quarter 2019
October 5
US and Turkey work together on “Security mechanism” for eastern Syria. EUCOM “U.S. and Turkish militaries are executing concrete steps as part of the security mechanism framework to address Turkey’s legitimate security concerns. The Department of Defense will be transparent as each phase of the security mechanism is implemented.”
October 6
White House: “Today, President Donald J. Trump spoke with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey by telephone. Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into Northern Syria. The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces, having defeated the ISIS territorial “Caliphate,” will no longer be in the immediate area. The United States Government has pressed France, Germany, and other European nations, from which many captured ISIS fighters came, to take them back, but they did not want them and refused. The United States will not hold them for what could be many years and great cost to the United States taxpayer. Turkey will now be responsible for all ISIS fighters in the area captured over the past two years in the wake of the defeat of the territorial “Caliphate” by the United States.”
October 9
2:52am ISIS fighters carry out attack in Raqqa
11:19am NATO chief scheduled to visit Ankara on Friday following United States’ green light to Turkish ground operation in #Syria.
12:29pm US Special Ops of OIR appears to tweet support for SDF
4:19pm Turkey announced “Peace spring” operation
4:45pm “”What we’re seeing is one of the greatest betrayals in military history,” Sky News reporter.
4:59 civilians flee Sere Kaniye
5:14 EU warns Turkey about “safe zone” operation
6:10pm NATO calls for restraint
7:09 pm airstrikes hit Qamishli
8:54pm Shells fall on Kobane
9:36pm 8 civilians killed
9:44 Clarissa Ward video shows smoke from airstrikes.
9:59 PM Masoud Barzani “Dear President Trump, please know that the people of Kurdistan have always pursued their just rights. The Peshmerga have defeated ISIS and are an effective part of the coalition against terror. The blood of the Kurds is far more valuable than money and weapons. Thank you.”
10:59pm Jenan Moussa: “Acc to him, 1000s of Kurds from Kobani are right now fleeing to a US military base near Lafarge cement factory, to seek US soldiers’ protection.”
10:33pm Turkey announced ground offensive.
11:45pm Senator Graham pushed for sanctions on Turkey
11:40pm Kurds in Kobane say they will go to US base to demand protection; Jenan Moussa Source said “If Americans don’t come to protect us, then we will go to them for protection.”
October 10
5:47am Pompeo: U.S. didn’t give Turkey a ‘green light’ to invade Syria
7:16am US takes control of some ISIS members, Trump: “In case the Kurds or Turkey lose control, the United States has already taken the 2 ISIS militants tied to beheadings in Syria, known as the Beetles, out of that country and into a secure location controlled by the U.S. They are the worst of the worst!”
11:15am MSF Iraq prepares to help Syrian patients from eastern Syria.
1:30pm Erdogan warns Europe against critiquing operation in Syria, or Turkey will release 3.6 million refugees to Europe.
3:15pm Benjamin Netanyahu “Israel strongly condemns the Turkish invasion of the Kurdish areas in Syria and warns against the ethnic cleansing of the Kurds by Turkey and its proxies. Israel is prepared to extend humanitarian assistance to the gallant Kurdish people.”
3:26pm US army officers tells Lara Seligman he feels ashamed. “America in my mind is still the shining beacon on the hill, but we are not living up to that right now.”
3;36pm KRG concerned about Rojava crisis.
3:54pm “UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi: There are hundreds of thousands of civilians in northern Syria who are vulnerable. Civilians and civilian infrastructure should not be targeted.”
Kurds protest in Erbil at UN office
4:58pm Senator Graham: “very sad to see great ally – the Kurds – being assaulted by Turkish-Erdogan military using American-designed equipment. Expect Congress to act soon against Turkey’s invasion & aggressively push back. Hope Trump Administration will join this effort.”
5:40pm Jake Hanrahan: Civilian casualties in Qamishli
7:01pm Macron “I strongly condemn the unilateral military offensive in Syria & I call on Turkey to end it as quickly as possible”
7:45pm Deputy Syrian Foreign Minister says Damascus is not ready to hold any talks with the SDF.
8:23 IDF reservists express concern about attacks on Kurds
9:22pm No condemnation from UNSC, appears both US and Russia wont’ condemn.
10:50pm momentum builds for sanctions on Turkey.
11:07pm Trump “We have one of three choices: Send in thousands of troops and win Militarily, hit Turkey very hard Financially and with Sanctions, or mediate a deal between Turkey and the Kurds!”
October 11
1:40am Wladimir Van Wilgenburg: Majority in Swedish parliament for sanctions against Turkey.
Turkey says it struck 181 “targets” in Syria on first day,.
3:18am Hassan Hassan “US shared intelligence with Turkey that may have aided attacks on Kurds.”
3:32am French Education minister supports Kurds.
4:30am “Trump’s four-pronged policy on northern Syria: U.S. will (1) not endorse Turkish invasion, (2) not provide Turkey military support, (3) not oppose Turks militarily, (4) insist on humanitarian limits | Senior State Department Officials On Situation in Syria”
4:48am Former US Amb. Ford “FORD: I think, in the long term, only reassertion of Syrian government control over eastern Syria provides a durable stability, a durable security. And nobody dislikes the Syrian government more than me.”
4;52am Mike McKinley, aid to Pompeo, resigns.
5:01am Nicholas Heras: “well informed source covering the #UnitedNations tells me #Russia made it clear that it won’t sign off on anything about #Turkey‘s campaign in N/E #Syria from the UNSC beyond a simple vague press statement read at the UN. Any resolution against Turkey would be killed by Russia.”
12:29pm Wilgenburg: ” Joint US-SDF patrols near Sharkrak region, of Ein Issa, along with US helicopters. It’s approx. 45 km south of Tal Abiad city. First time since the beginning of the Turkish invasion against northeast Syria.”
4:06pm US OIR Special Ops wars “”Daesh is trying to regenerate,” said Maj. Gen. Hill
9:00pm US troops in Kobane come under fire from Turkish artillery
8:46pm Rukimini Callimachi “A Kurdish official with the SDF has shared a video with reporters which he says shows a small group of ISIS prisoners escaping from the Navkur prison in Qamishlo. I’m not on the ground so this needs further confirmation, but if true this is not good news.”
10:53pm More than 70,000 displaced, 450,000 civilians living within 5 km of the border,
11:13 pm Josie Ensor: “Coalition official tells me after Turkish bombing near US base Mashtenour hill: “They know we are there, we told them our position. There’s no other target in the area. They’re trying to drive us out. If Turkey can get us to leave so they can seige Kobane, it’s all over.”
October 12
2:20am Kurdish woman asks US soldiers for protection in Kobane
2:35am Kurdish imam Mullah Masoud speaks out against operation.
5:21pm Yazidi villages evacuated in Syria.
6:38pm “You have given up on us. You are leaving us to be slaughtered,” Gen. Mazloum told the Deputy Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, William Roebuck Thursday, according to an internal US government readout that has been obtained by CNN. “I need to know if you are capable of protecting my people, of stopping these bombs falling on us or not. I need to know, because if you’re not, I need to make a deal with Russia and the regime now and invite their planes to protect this region…”I’ve been holding myself for two days from going to the press and saying that America abandoned us and that I would like you to get out of our areas now so that I can invite Russian and regime planes to take over this airspace….Either you stop this bombing on our people now or move aside so we can let in the Russians.”
7:10pm Roebuck responded “not to take any immediate decisions” and that he’d consult with the State Department
7;38pm More people post video of Turkish-backed forces executing prisoners.
7:40pm Brutal video shows Turkish-backed extremists executing prisoners.
8:19 pm Videos of Ahrar ash-Sharqiya abusing prisoners.
9:02 pm atrocities begin to be noticed in US media.
9;54pm Turkish shells land dangerously close to US forces; Natasha Bertrand:“A senior Pentagon official said shelling was so heavy that the U.S. personnel considered firing back in self-defense.”
10:21pm France suspends arms sales to Turkey
9:55pm Turkish-backed Syrian Arab groups capture and set up checkpoint on M4 highway.
11:00pm Israel concerned about Trump’s decision.
11:11 Turkish media claims “successful operation” and “neutralizing” of female politician. Brett McGurk: “an unarmed 35-year old woman working to unite Arabs, Christians, and Kurds in NE Syria. Ms. Hevrin Khalef was reportedly dragged from a vehicle and shot to death. That’s a war crime.”
October 13
More than 130,000 people displaced by fighting
00:32 video of Kurdish mother holding baby shocks social media
6:06am ““We condemn in the strongest of terms any mistreatment and extrajudicial execution of civilians or prisoners, and are looking further into these circumstances,” anonymous State Dept. official says.
10:47 Turkey has detained people for social media posts opposing the war.
1:16pm Nick Paton Walsh: “official tells me Turkish backed Syrian rebels have set up checkpoints on road between Ain Issa and Kobani. We heard gunfire and saw civilians flee. Road closed. Turkish jet buzzed us and US convoy leaving the town.”
1:27 more evidence of war crimes, extremist slogans among Syrian rebels sent as part of “National Army” attack Kurdish forces
Syrian regime says it will oppose Turkish invasion
1:40pm Ain Issa: 785 ISIS terrorists escaped, photo shows some of them fleeing
1:40pm Video surfaces showing the body of the murdered Kurdish female politician Hevin Khalaf, with Turkish-backed extremists chanting in celebration
2:02pm Rukmini Callimachi “An SDF commander has confirmed to me that the Ain Issa camp has fallen and all the detainees (a population of thousands that includes ISIS supporters, ISIS relatives and civilians) have fled. ‘An unbelievable mess,’ the commander said.”
France is “concerned” about escaped ISIS members.
3:19pm Syria time: Sec of Defense Esper says the President has ordered “a deliberate withdrawal” from Northern Syria. “As safely and quickly as possible.”
The car of Hevrin Khalaf, murdered by Turkish-backed proxies in what was termed a “neutralization” in Turkish media
3:57pm Trump: “Very smart not to be involved in the intense fighting along the Turkish Border, for a change. Those that mistakenly got us into the Middle East Wars are still pushing to fight. They have no idea what a bad decision they have made. Why are they not asking for a Declaration of War?”
4:04pm US vehicles leave Kobane as US says it will withdraw around 1,000 soldiers.
4:09pm Trump “Do you remember two years ago when Iraq was going to fight the Kurds in a different part of Syria. Many people wanted us to fight with the Kurds against Iraq, who we just fought for. I said no, and the Kurds left the fight, twice. Now the same thing is happening with Turkey…The Kurds and Turkey have been fighting for many years. Turkey considers the PKK the worst terrorists of all. Others may want to come in and fight for one side or the other. Let them! We are monitoring the situation closely. Endless Wars!”
4:17pm Trump “many members of Congress, including Democrats, about imposing powerful Sanctions on Turkey. Treasury is ready to go, additional legislation may be sought. There is great consensus on this. Turkey has asked that it not be done. Stay tuned!”
4:24 pm Richard Engel: “US official – the situation on the ground is deteriorating rapidly in Syria. Extremist Turkish proxies have advanced. US Forces at risk of being isolated. increased risk of confrontation between Turkish proxies and US Forces unless Turkey halts their advance immediately.”
5:08pm Merkel calls for immediate end to Turkey’s operation
5:32 pm Video shows Turkish strike that harmed journalists near Ras al-Ayn, up to 40 casualties.
5:44 US Senator Graham “Good decision by President to work with Congress to impose crippling sanctions against Turkeys outrageous aggression/war crimes in Syria.”
6:05pm North press reports that regime will enter SDF areas.
6:12 Reports Turkish airstrike targets civilian convoy on way to Ras al Ayn
6:25 Al-Mayadeen: Regime will enter Manbij and Kobani in next two days
6:52 Turkey compiles list of critical Twitter voices to arrest and have accounts shut down.
7:28pm statement by US SecDef Esper
7:53 Video emerges of the aftermath of the ambush and murder of Hevin Khalaf.
8:31pm map shows apparent area regime may go into
9:12pm Wilgenburg: “Ismet Sheikh: Yet the meetings by the U.N. Security Council and the Arab League did not result in a solution. We ourselves should heal our pain. When we urged all Kurdish [circles] should rely on our unity, no one listened. Now we have reached an agreement”
9;20pm Anadolu: Turkey “neutralized” 525 “terrorists” in operation
9:32 pm Amberin Zaman: “Well-informed sources with close knowledge of the administration’s policymaking told Al-Monitor the writing has been on the wall for some time. Many said the Kurds had been misled by Trump’s Syria team led by ambassador James Jeffrey.”
10:00pm photos from Hevin Khalaf’s funeral. The Future party leader was murdered, the US had once worked with her but now barely acknowledges her existence.
10:03pm Martin Chulov: “The sudden change in Qamishli tonight was palpable: Internet was cut, then bustling streets became empty & eerie. This was the moment regional power changed hands. Exit US, enter Russia and Turkey.”
10:19 Kurdish forces call for Syrian army to take control of Turkish border.
10:29 people in Raqqa nervous of regime’s return.
10:47 pm Josie Ensor: SDF’s Mazloum writing hours before announcement: “We know we would have to make painful compromises with Moscow & Assad if we go down that road. But if we have to choose between compromises and the genocide of our people, we will surely choose life”
10:52 Turkey still demands 32 km “safe zone“
10:53pm Mohammed Salih “Local sources in NE Syria confirm broad agreement between SDF & Russia/Assad for deployment of Russia-backed forces in SDF region in stages. 1st stage Minbaj and Kobani, then other areas. Kurds now effectively see US military as collaborators with enemy.”
11:00pm Celebratory gunfire in as Syrian troops roll into the streets of Qamishli reported.
11:13 SDF still wonders if US is an ally: Ryan Browne quoting SDF “The reason we allied ourselves w/ the United States is our core belief in democracy. We are disappointed & frustrated by the current crisis. Our people are under attack & their safety is our paramount concern….Two questions remain: How can we best protect our people? And is the United States still our ally?”
11:17 Yasin Aktay: Conflict could arise with Syrian army.
11:19pm Turkey says US has withdrawn from Kobani; US forces evacuated their base in Kobani, Turkish security sources tell Anadolu.
11:26 Arab minister condemn Turkish invasion
11:26pm Rumors of Assad forces entering areas near Hasakah.
11:28pm Turkish presidential advisor warns of potential clash between Syrian army, Turkish forces if the Syrian forces enter northeast Syria, a Turkish presidential advisor told Sputnik Arabic.
Statement by SDF administration October 14, 2019
11:35: Turkey votes to continue Syrian offensive along border.
11:40: Russian appears to be rushing to figure out who will lead and how after the decision to invite Russia and regime in. Details of Russian agreement with SDF.