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2019 Tell Rifaat Clashes
Part of Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War, Operation Olive Branch and the Syrian Civil War
Date 4–5 May 2019 (1 day) Location Tell Rifaat Subdistrict, Aleppo Governorate, Syria Result SDF victory Turkish/SNA forces capture three villages before withdrawing due to SDF shelling Frontlines remains unchanged Turkish/SNA cancel the offensive
Belligerents
Turkey Turkish Armed Forces Syrian National Army (SNA)	Rojava YPG Syrian Democratic Forces Afrin Liberation Forces (HRE) Syrian Arab Republic Syrian Arab Armed Forces
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Unknown
Units involved
Turkey Turkish Armed Forces Turkish Land Forces Syrian National Army (SNA) Third Legion	Syrian Democratic Forces People's Protection Units (YPG) Syrian Arab Armed Forces Syrian Arab Army (SAA)
Strength
600–1,200	200–450
Casualties and losses
4 killed, 2 injured(per SOHR) 8 killed (per SOHR) 40 killed (per SDF)	23 killed

The 2019 Tell Rifaat Clashes were a military confrontation between Turkey and allied Free Syrian Army groups against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in early May 2019.

Background

The clashes began after two Turkish soldiers were killed on May 4, 2019, in a confrontation with the YPG, and one soldier was injured. In retaliation, the Turkish Defense Ministry claimed to have killed a total of 23 YPG fighters. Following the incident, a Turkish official told Reuters that a larger operation would be launched "if necessary."

Timeline

On 4 May 2019, the Syrian National Army (SNA) announced it had initiated an operation against the YPG in the villages near Tell Rifaat. The SNA managed to initially capture the three villages of Mar'anaz, Al-Malikiyah, and Shawarighat al Arz, facing little resistance. After taking the villages the SNA stated “Our aspiration is to reach Tel Rifaat and what is beyond it.” However, subsequently, due to heavy shelling by SDF as well as pro-government forces and a large number of landmines in the area, the SNA and the Turkish Armed Forces were forced to withdraw and the Kurdish-led forces recaptured all three villages.

The following day, it was reported that the offensive had been cancelled in favor of more negotiations between Turkey and Russia to set up a joint demilitarized zone in the area.

Aftermath

On 18 May 2019, new fighting erupted in the Tell Rifaat area, with five rebels and one civilian being killed. On 9 June 2019, fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces attacked Turkish troops, killing 2 soldier and wounding 7. In response, the Turkish Armed Forces responded days later with shelling.

See also

• Operation Olive Branch
• SDF insurgency in Northern Aleppo
• 2018 Syrian-Turkish border clashes

References

1. ^ "Afrin Liberation Forces: 40 terrorists killed in Afrin". ANF News. Ajansa Nûçeyan a Firatê. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
2. Zagros, Berxwedan (4 May 2019). "Kurdish forces and #SAA repelled attacks by Turkish-backed jihadists on Malikiya for the third time. There many casualties among #TFSA". Retrieved 7 May 2019.
3. Woofers (4 May 2019). "Syrian Army artillery was directly involved with shelling TFSA positions today". Retrieved 7 May 2019.
4. ^ "The pro-Turkey factions of "Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield" withdraw from the areas they have advanced into in the northern countryside at the expense of the Kurdish forces after heavy shelling and landmine explosions". Retrieved 7 May 2019.
5. ^ "Turkish Army cancels offensive in northern Aleppo amid safe zone talks with Russia: reports". 5 May 2019. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-05-05. Retrieved 2019-05-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
7. ^ "Four Turkish soldiers killed in attacks by Kurdish militants,..." Reuters. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019 – via www.reuters.com.
8. ^
10. Şafak, Yeni (4 May 2019). "Tel Rıfat operasyonu başladı: Maranez köyü PKK'dan kurtarıldı". Yeni Şafak. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
11. "Syrian rebel force liberate Kurdish YPG-held village - official". Devdiscourse. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
12. "Turkey-backed Syrian rebels launch attack into Kurdish-held area". Reuters. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019 – via www.reuters.com.
13. "Under the continuous escalation and after less than 15 days of killing Turkish officers, renewed violent clashes in Tal Rifaat area between the Kurdish Forces and pro-Turkish factions killed 5 of the latter, coinciding with a violent Turkish bombardment targets Tal Rifaat and its vicinity". 18 May 2019.
14. "At least 7 people were killed and injured in the heavy shelling by the Turkish Forces on Tal Rifaat north of Aleppo". 18 May 2019.

• 2019 in Syria
• Conflicts in 2019
• May 2019 events in Syria
• Military operations of the Syrian civil war in 2019
• Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving Turkey
• Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Free Syrian Army
• Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Syrian Democratic Forces
• Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the People's Defense Units
• Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Syrian government
• Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Syrian National Army
• Aleppo Governorate in the Syrian civil war
• Battles in 2019