2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria order of battle

This is the order of battle for the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria, codenamed "Operation Peace Spring" by Turkey. The pro-Turkish forces, including the Syrian National Army, are opposed by the armed forces of the NES, including the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Turkey and allied forces

Turkey

Turkish Armed Forces
- Air Force
- Land Forces
  - 1st Army
    - 7th Commando Brigade^[1]
  - 2nd Army
    - 6th Corps
      - 5th Armored Brigade^[2]
      - 11th Commando Brigade^[3]
    - 8th Corps
      - 4th Commando Brigade^[4]
General Directorate of Security
- Police Special Operation Department^[5]
National Intelligence Organization (MİT)

Syrian Interim Government

Syrian National Army
- First Legion
  - Ahrar al-Sharqiya^[6]^[7]
    - Brigade 123^[8]
    - Badr Martyrs' Battalion^[8]
  - Sultan Suleyman Shah Brigade^[9]^[10]
  - 1st Division^[10]
  - Division 14^[11]
    - Division 20 / Brigade 144^[11]
- Second Legion
  - Hamza Division^[7]
    - Kurdish Falcons Brigade^[12]
  - Sultan Murad Division^[7]
  - Jaysh al-Islam^[9]
  - Men of War Brigade^[13]
- Third Legion
  - Levant Front^[14]
    - Northern Storm Brigade^[15]
  - Glory Corps^[14]
    - Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement remnants^[16]
  - Force 55^[17]
- Fourth Legion
  - Sham Legion^[9]
- Fifth Legion
- Other SNA factions
  - Elite Army
    - Azadî Battalion^[19]
  - Anwar al-Hak Brigade^[20]
  - Mimati battalion^[21]
  - Army of Victory^[10]
  - Army of the East^[10]

SDF and allied forces

Rojava (Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria)

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)
- People's Protection Units (YPG)
- Women's Protection Units (YPJ)
- Syriac Military Council (MFS)^[22]^[23]
  - Bethnahrain Women's Protection Forces^[24]
- Northern Democratic Brigade^[25]
- Martyr Nubar Ozanyan Brigade^[26]
- Assyrian Forces^[27]^[28]^[29]
  - Khabour Guards^[30]
- SDF military councils
  - Serê Kaniyê Military Council^[31]
    - Liwa al-Tahrir
    - Army of Revolutionaries‌^[32]^[7]
      - Kurdish Front
    - Thuwar Tal Abyad
    - Annaba Clan Volunteers
  - Manbij Military Council^[33]
  - Jarabulus Military Council^[34]
  - Tal Abyad Military Council^[35]
  - Qamishli Military Council^[36]
  - Raqqa Military Council^[37]
  - Hasakah Military Council^[38]
  - Al-Shaddadi Military Council^[39]^[40]
- Military Discipline Units^[41]
Rojava security forces
- Civilian Defense Force (HPC)^[22]
- Self-Defence Forces (HXP)^[42]
- Anti-Terror Forces (HAT)^[43]

[...] the Syrian regime's military deployments to northeast Syria have largely relied on sending one or two battalions from nearly two dozen divisions and regiments. [...] In all likelihood, this is driven by a combination of two factors: there are few to no full brigades available to deploy at this time [and] the SAA overwhelming deploys units within specific geographic boundaries.

—Gregory Waters, Middle East Institute researcher^[44]

Syria

Syrian Armed Forces
- Syrian Arab Army^[45]^[46]
  - Manbij Front
    - Republican Guard
      - 104th Brigade^[44]
      - 106th Brigade^[44]
      - 100th Artillery Regiment^[44]
    - 1st Division
      - 68th Brigade
        282nd Battalion^[44]
  - Kobani Front
    - Republican Guard
      - 30th Division^[44]
      - 105th Brigade^[44]
    - 1st Division
      - 57th Brigade
        846th Battalion^[44]
    - Border Guards
      - 12th Regiment^[44]
  - Ain Issa/Raqqa Front
    - 5th Corps
      - 5th Brigade^[44]
      - 7th Brigade
        3rd Battalion^[44]
      - 148th Regiment
        2nd Battalion^[44]
      - 103rd Artillery^[44]
    - Republican Guard
      - 104th Brigade
        476th Battalion^[44]
  - Ras al-Ayn/Tel Tamar Front
    - 17th Division
      - 54th Regiment
        23rd Battalion^[44]
        
        79th Battalion^[44]
      - 121st Artillery Regiment^[44]
      - 123rd Artillery Regiment^[44]
    - 3rd Division
      - 20th Brigade
        38th Battalion^[44]
    - 10th Division
      - 62nd Brigade^[44]
  - Northeast Hasakah Front
    - Border Guards
      - 5th Regiment^[44]

Note: The pro-Syrian government National Defence Forces have an active branch in al-Hasakah Governorate, but have refused to fight alongside the SDF against Turkish-led forces. This is motivated by animosity of local NDF troops toward the SDF, as well as internal leadership disputes that have paralyzed al-Hasakah's NDF. In addition, the General Intelligence Branch 330 is known to be active in northern Syria.^[44]

Allied armed groups:

International Freedom Battalion (IFB)^[47]^[48]
- Marxist–Leninist Communist Party (MLKP)^[48]^[49]
  - Martyr Serkan Battalion^[50]
- United Freedom Forces
  - Marxist–Leninist Armed Propaganda Unit (MLSPB)^[48]
  - Revolutionary Communard Party/United Freedom Forces (DKP/BÖG)^[48]
- Revolutionary Communard Party/Birlik (DKP/Birlik)^[48]
- Maoist Communist Party (MKP)^[48]
- Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist–Leninist (TKP-ML)^[48]
  - Turkey Workers and Peasants Liberation Army (TİKKO)^[48]
- Communist Labour Party of Turkey/Leninist (TKEP/L)^[48]
- Tekoşîna Anarşîst^[48]

References

^ "Suriye'ye ilk adımı atan birliğin komutanı tanıdık çıktı". odatv.com. 16 October 2019.
^ Adi Smajić; Paul McLoughlin (9 October 2019). "Revealed: Turkey's three-stage plan to capture northern Syria from Kurdish militias, lasting into 2020". The New Arab. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
^ "Suriye sınırına askeri sevkiyat". Timeturk.com.
^ "SBarış Pınarı Harekatı". Timeturk.com.
^ "Barış Pınarı Harekatı bölgesine özel harekat desteği". www.aa.com.tr.
^ "Turkish-backed militants amass near Syrian border town for new offensive". Al-Masdar News. 8 October 2019. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Which Syrian Groups Are Involved in Turkey's Syria Offensive?". Voice of America. 9 October 2019.
^ ^a ^b Fatma Ben Hamad. (21 October 2019). "Images document extrajudicial killings by Turkish-backed militia in Syria". France24. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Tastekin, Fehim (13 October 2019). "Who are the Turkish-backed forces in latest Syria incursion?". al-Monitor. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "تعرّف إلى توزّع الجيش الوطني على محاور العملية العسكرية شرق الفرات" [Learn about the distribution of the national army on the axis of the military operation east of the Euphrates]. Qasioun News (in Arabic). 8 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
^ ^a ^b Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (5 November 2019). "Division 20: Interview". Retrieved 10 November 2019.
^ "Fırat'ın doğusuna operasyonda YPG'ye Kürt Şahinleri Tugayı darbesi". Internet Haber. 9 October 2019.
^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (8 November 2019). "The Men of War Brigade: Interview". Retrieved 10 November 2019.
^ ^a ^b "تل أبيض: مراسل جسر يرصد انتهاكات بحق المدنيين من قبل فصائل "الوطني"" [Tel Abyad: Jisr reporter monitors abuses against civilians by SNA factions]. Jesr Press (in Arabic). 18 October 2019. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
^ Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (9 October 2019). "Turkish Operations East of the Euphrates: A Rebel Perspective". Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi.
^ ^a ^b Sami Moubayed (11 October 2019). "Kurds face uphill battle against Turkish and Syrian armies". Gulf News. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ "Force 55: Interview". 25 February 2020.
^ Walid Al Nofal (15 October 2019). "The Syrian National Army: For the Syrian revolution or against the Kurds?". Syria:Direct. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ NUR ÖZKAN ERBAY; MUSTAFA KIRIKÇIOĞLU (13 October 2019). "Syrian Kurds look to end YPG-rule in Syria". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ "Militäroffensive der Türkei: Deutsche Waffenexporte auf höchstem Stand seit 14 Jahren" [Turkey's military offensive: German weapons exports at the highest level since 14 years]. Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). 17 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
^ Ammar Hamou (27 October 2019). "Civilians the only innocent party in 'Operation Peace Spring'". Syria:Direct. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ ^a ^b Szuba, Jared (10 October 2019). "'The border is on fire': Turkey's ground forces battle Syria's Kurds near Tal Abyad". The Defense Post. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
^ Joanne Stocker (14 November 2019). ""The sky is against us" – Syrian Christian fighters struggle to hold their lines in Tel Tamer". Defense Post. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
^ "Joint press conference of SDF, Syriac Military Council, Women Protection Forces Beth Nahrin". Hawar News. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
^ "لواء الشمال الديمقراطي يؤكد مواصلة النضال للدفاع عن مكتسبات المنطقة ضد أي تهديد" [The Northern Democratic Brigade affirms the continued struggle to defend the gains of the region against any threat]. ANF News (in Arabic). 11 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
^ "The Armenian Battalion taking part in defense of Serêkaniyê". ANF News. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
^ "SDF Command: Syriac Military Council, Assyrian forces undertake security responsibility in Hawd al- Khabour". Hawar News. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
^ Roj Eli Zalla (5 November 2019). "Northern Syrian Christians on a mission to protect their villages". Rudaw. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
^ "Assyrian fighters: We are attacked by the ISIS". ANF. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
^ Delil Souleiman (19 November 2019). "In northeast Syria, last Assyrians fear Turkish advance". Times of Israel. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
^ ÇAKSU, ERSİN (11 October 2019). "Not a single house captured by the enemy in Serekaniye". ANF News. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
^ "من هي "قوات سوريا الديمقراطية".. ومِما تتألف؟". Lebanon24.
^ Manbij Military Council (14 October 2019). "قوات مجلس منبج العسكري تحبط هجوماً لمرتزقة درع الفرات". المجلس العسكري لمدينة منبج وريفها (in Arabic). Retrieved 14 October 2019.
^ ""Jarabulus Military Council" targets a vehicle south of Jarabulus by a guided missile leaving 2 persons dead in conjunction with an assassination targeted members of Turkey-loyal factions south of Azaz". SOHR. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
^ "Tal Abyad Military Council: It is our duty to protect our people if Turkey violates the agreement". Hawar News. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
^ "Qamishlo bid farewell to its four martyrs". ANF News. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
^ "SDF fighter Ismail Hisên laid to rest". ANF News. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
^ "Six SDF martyrs laid to rest in Heseke". ANF News. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
^ "Emotional farewell ceremony for 8 SDF martyrs in Şedadê". ANF News. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
^ "300 fighters join to al-Shadadi Military Council after declaring general alarm by clans' notables". Hawar News. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
^ "Two martyrs laid to rest in Raqqa". ANF News. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
^ "SDF: 118 invading forces members killed". ANF News. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
^ "HAT Commander Tolhildan Zagros fell martyr in Girê Spî". ANF News. 23 October 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v Gregory Waters (20 November 2019). "Return to the northeast: Syrian Army deployments against Turkish forces". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
^ "Syrian Army to enter strategic city in Raqqa for first time since 2014". 14 October 2019.
^ Perper, Rosie (14 October 2019). "Kurdish forces strike a deal with Assad's army as they battle an intensifying Turkish assault in northern Syria".
^ "Why is Turkey invading northeast Syria?". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j "The Communist volunteers fighting the Turkish invasion of Syria". Morning Star. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
^ "MLKP: Kerem Pehlivan yoldaşımız şehit düştü". ANF News.
^ "MLKP fighter fell in Rojava". ANF News. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.

[1] "Suriye'ye ilk adımı atan birliğin komutanı tanıdık çıktı". odatv.com. 16 October 2019.

[2] Adi Smajić; Paul McLoughlin (9 October 2019). "Revealed: Turkey's three-stage plan to capture northern Syria from Kurdish militias, lasting into 2020". The New Arab. Retrieved 19 December 2019.

[3] "Suriye sınırına askeri sevkiyat". Timeturk.com.

[4] "SBarış Pınarı Harekatı". Timeturk.com.

[5] "Barış Pınarı Harekatı bölgesine özel harekat desteği". www.aa.com.tr.

[6] "Turkish-backed militants amass near Syrian border town for new offensive". Al-Masdar News. 8 October 2019. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.

[voa-7] "Which Syrian Groups Are Involved in Turkey's Syria Offensive?". Voice of America. 9 October 2019.

[france24-8] Fatma Ben Hamad. (21 October 2019). "Images document extrajudicial killings by Turkish-backed militia in Syria". France24. Retrieved 21 November 2019.

[Tastekin-9] Tastekin, Fehim (13 October 2019). "Who are the Turkish-backed forces in latest Syria incursion?". al-Monitor. Retrieved 14 October 2019.

[qasioun-10] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "تعرّف إلى توزّع الجيش الوطني على محاور العملية العسكرية شرق الفرات" [Learn about the distribution of the national army on the axis of the military operation east of the Euphrates]. Qasioun News (in Arabic). 8 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.

[div20-11] Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (5 November 2019). "Division 20: Interview". Retrieved 10 November 2019.

[12] "Fırat'ın doğusuna operasyonda YPG'ye Kürt Şahinleri Tugayı darbesi". Internet Haber. 9 October 2019.

[13] Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (8 November 2019). "The Men of War Brigade: Interview". Retrieved 10 November 2019.

[jesr-14] "تل أبيض: مراسل جسر يرصد انتهاكات بحق المدنيين من قبل فصائل "الوطني"" [Tel Abyad: Jisr reporter monitors abuses against civilians by SNA factions]. Jesr Press (in Arabic). 18 October 2019. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.

[15] Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (9 October 2019). "Turkish Operations East of the Euphrates: A Rebel Perspective". Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi.

[gulf-16] Sami Moubayed (11 October 2019). "Kurds face uphill battle against Turkish and Syrian armies". Gulf News. Retrieved 28 October 2019.

[17] "Force 55: Interview". 25 February 2020.

[18] Walid Al Nofal (15 October 2019). "The Syrian National Army: For the Syrian revolution or against the Kurds?". Syria:Direct. Retrieved 28 October 2019.

[19] NUR ÖZKAN ERBAY; MUSTAFA KIRIKÇIOĞLU (13 October 2019). "Syrian Kurds look to end YPG-rule in Syria". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 28 October 2019.

[20] "Militäroffensive der Türkei: Deutsche Waffenexporte auf höchstem Stand seit 14 Jahren" [Turkey's military offensive: German weapons exports at the highest level since 14 years]. Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). 17 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.

[21] Ammar Hamou (27 October 2019). "Civilians the only innocent party in 'Operation Peace Spring'". Syria:Direct. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.

[BorderOnFire-22] Szuba, Jared (10 October 2019). "'The border is on fire': Turkey's ground forces battle Syria's Kurds near Tal Abyad". The Defense Post. Retrieved 11 October 2019.

[23] Joanne Stocker (14 November 2019). ""The sky is against us" – Syrian Christian fighters struggle to hold their lines in Tel Tamer". Defense Post. Retrieved 20 November 2019.

[24] "Joint press conference of SDF, Syriac Military Council, Women Protection Forces Beth Nahrin". Hawar News. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.

[25] "لواء الشمال الديمقراطي يؤكد مواصلة النضال للدفاع عن مكتسبات المنطقة ضد أي تهديد" [The Northern Democratic Brigade affirms the continued struggle to defend the gains of the region against any threat]. ANF News (in Arabic). 11 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.

[26] "The Armenian Battalion taking part in defense of Serêkaniyê". ANF News. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.

[27] "SDF Command: Syriac Military Council, Assyrian forces undertake security responsibility in Hawd al- Khabour". Hawar News. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.

[28] Roj Eli Zalla (5 November 2019). "Northern Syrian Christians on a mission to protect their villages". Rudaw. Retrieved 19 December 2019.

[29] "Assyrian fighters: We are attacked by the ISIS". ANF. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.

[30] Delil Souleiman (19 November 2019). "In northeast Syria, last Assyrians fear Turkish advance". Times of Israel. Retrieved 20 November 2019.

[31] ÇAKSU, ERSİN (11 October 2019). "Not a single house captured by the enemy in Serekaniye". ANF News. Retrieved 11 October 2019.

[32] "من هي "قوات سوريا الديمقراطية".. ومِما تتألف؟". Lebanon24.

[33] Manbij Military Council (14 October 2019). "قوات مجلس منبج العسكري تحبط هجوماً لمرتزقة درع الفرات". المجلس العسكري لمدينة منبج وريفها (in Arabic). Retrieved 14 October 2019.

[34] ""Jarabulus Military Council" targets a vehicle south of Jarabulus by a guided missile leaving 2 persons dead in conjunction with an assassination targeted members of Turkey-loyal factions south of Azaz". SOHR. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.

[35] "Tal Abyad Military Council: It is our duty to protect our people if Turkey violates the agreement". Hawar News. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.

[36] "Qamishlo bid farewell to its four martyrs". ANF News. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.

[37] "SDF fighter Ismail Hisên laid to rest". ANF News. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.

[38] "Six SDF martyrs laid to rest in Heseke". ANF News. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.

[39] "Emotional farewell ceremony for 8 SDF martyrs in Şedadê". ANF News. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.

[40] "300 fighters join to al-Shadadi Military Council after declaring general alarm by clans' notables". Hawar News. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.

[41] "Two martyrs laid to rest in Raqqa". ANF News. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.

[42] "SDF: 118 invading forces members killed". ANF News. Retrieved 16 October 2019.

[43] "HAT Commander Tolhildan Zagros fell martyr in Girê Spî". ANF News. 23 October 2019.

[return-44] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v Gregory Waters (20 November 2019). "Return to the northeast: Syrian Army deployments against Turkish forces". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 21 November 2019.

[45] "Syrian Army to enter strategic city in Raqqa for first time since 2014". 14 October 2019.

[46] Perper, Rosie (14 October 2019). "Kurdish forces strike a deal with Assad's army as they battle an intensifying Turkish assault in northern Syria".

[47] "Why is Turkey invading northeast Syria?". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 16 October 2019.

[morningstar-48] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j "The Communist volunteers fighting the Turkish invasion of Syria". Morning Star. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.

[49] "MLKP: Kerem Pehlivan yoldaşımız şehit düştü". ANF News.

[50] "MLKP fighter fell in Rojava". ANF News. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.

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