What just happened in Syria?

What just happened in Syria? The Roughest Timeline I Can Piece Together TLDR: The US government just started a war with Turkey 2 days after announcing a full withdrawal of troops from Syria. \--- Here’s the timetable I was able to piece together from the news: *(Note: There is a 7 hour time difference between Turkey/Syria and Eastern Daylight Time in the US. Most articles describing times of events don’t state which time zone that time is in, so I’m assuming local time for each event. Adjust by 7 hours if necessary.)* # **Sunday October 6 \[Washington DC\]** At 10:45pm, the Trump administration announced that they would be pulling troops out of Syria. *(The DoD refers to this as a “Withdrawal” in their press release \[1\], while the White House referred to this as a “Redeployment” in their statement \[2\].)* # **Monday October 7 \[Damascus\]** The Syrian government has re-established control over all of the major cities in Northern Syria, including Qamishli and Hasakah, in a deal brokered by Russia. This is an attempt to prevent Turkish aggression by putting official Syrian forces in the way. \[3\] # **Tuesday October 8 \[Ankara\]** Turkey begins to move troops towards the border. \[4\]\[5\] # **Wednesday October 9 \[Kobane\]** US “Special Forces” are photographed leaving Kobane, Syria \[6\]. Kobane is a small Syrian city right on the border with Turkey, known for being liberated from ISIS by the Kurds in 2014 \[7\]. # **Wednesday October 9 \[Ankara\]** The Turkish government announced that a Turkish “Operation” had begun in Syria a few hours after the US left Kobane. \[8\] # **Wednesday October 9 Evening \[Kobane\]** Kurdish troops just outside Kobane are struck by Turkish artillery. \[9\] # **Wednesday October 9 Evening \[Washington DC\]** US government officials announce their unanimous opposition to the Turkish attack \[10\], and the Defense Department put out a statement that they did not give Turkey permission to attack \[11\]. # **Wednesday October 9 Late Evening \[Kobane\]** Kobane is directly shelled by Turkish artillery, reportedly targeting an SDF (Kurdish) base. \[12\]\[13\] *(All times are in GMT, which is the same time zone as Damascus.)* That’s as far as I got. Just in the last hour, Turkey \[reportedly\] struck a Syrian Airbase \[14\] \[15\]. Erdogan has directly threatened the US that if they don’t get out of the way, they will leave Turkey: > “If you don’t leave the areas which we have warned, which we have announced to be a safe area, then we will make you leave there. This is not a joke.” He’s \[reportedly\] also directly accused the US of directly helping the Kurds: > “Turkey has \[begun\] the campaign. A short time ago the Turkish flag went up in Tel Abyad. Our first goal was to push the PKK and YPG out of this area. A second goal was to \[resettle\] refugees in that area. They have promised this but have not fulfilled it. Now we are doing it. We are doing \[it\] even though the US and other coalition countries have supported these terror organisations. They are even helping them with arms even though they promised us otherwise. \[Originally in Turkish\]” \[16\] Well, the US government has gotten themselves into quite the mess, haven’t they? Edit: Holy shit this blew up. *So, I just read another article \[17\] that claims Kobane was bombed by the Turkish Air Force even before the first artillery barrage. I’m going to leave the claim about artillery just outside Kobane stand for now because I don’t want to start spreading a massive amount of conflicting information.* *Also, Turkey claims to have downed a Syrian helicopter \[18\].* *Turkey is claiming that the Syrian government has promised to fight Turkey \[19\].* *Erdogan claims that the US has promised to “withdraw” from Kobane \[20\].* *Meanwhile, back in the US, the White House is saying that the Turkey action is “Damaging the intimacy” between the US and Turkey \[21\].* *The New York Times claims that General Mazloum Kobani Abdi, commander of the SDF, has asked the US government for air support \[22\].* *The Turkish \[state-controlled\] Anadolu News Agency claims that the US government has asked Turkey to stand down, and that Turkey has refused \[23\].* *The Syrian government promised to defend the “Territorial integrity” of Syria \[24\].* *The Kurdish Red Crescent claims that \[as of 6:00 AM Local Time\] that there are 8 civilians dead and “Dozens” injured \[25\].* *Erdogan \[reportedly\] said that Turkey will return Syria to its “Real owners” \[26\].* *The US government has condemned the \[Syrian Government\] for “Attacking civilians” in the Idlib Province \[27\].* *The Russian government has condemned Turkey’s \[new\] attack \[28\].* *Erdogan claims that “1000s” of \[Kurdish\] fighters have been killed \[29\].* * *(Possibly propaganda. Dunno.)* *The Russian government has released a \[pretty damn good\] timeline of US/Turkish/Syrian/Russian relations in Syria \[30\].* * *(A bit biased, but it’s good nonetheless.)* * *(End of Update 1)* *The Turkish government has claimed they have taken control of 74 Syrian villages \[31\].* * *(Possibly propaganda. Dunno.)* *Kurdish sources have confirmed that Turkish-backed troops have taken control of Tel Abyad and Kobane \[32\].* * *(This is probably the actual start of the genocide.)* *The SDF has also claimed that they shot down a Turkish helicopter \[33\].* * *(No evidence yet.)* *The SDF has claimed that they have killed or injured 88 Turkish-backed troops \[34\].* * *(Possibly propaganda. Dunno.)* * *(End of Update 2)* *The International Red Cross has announced that a Syrian Red Crescent ambulance has been struck, killing one SARC volunteer \[35\].* * *(Unclear whether this was accidental or purposeful.)* * *(End of Update 3)* *The US government has sent a delegation to the Turkish capital of Ankara \[36\].* * *(Unclear what they’re doing.)* * *(End of Update 4)* *The International Red Cross has announced that a Syrian Red Crescent vehicle has been “Struck by a shell” \[37\].* * *(Unclear whether this was accidental or purposeful.)* *The Red Cross has announced that a hospital has come under fire \[38\].* * *(Unclear which side did it.)* * *(End of Update 5)* *The Russian government has announced that they have brokered a deal between the Syrian government and the Kurdish administration in Northern Syria \[39\].* * *(End of Update 6)*

What just happened in Syria?

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