Order of battle for Operation Olive Branch explained
This is the order of battle for the Operation Olive Branch, a joint Turkish Armed Forces/Syrian National Army attack on the People's Protection Units-held Afrin Canton.[1] [2]
Turkey and allied forces
Turkey
Grey Wolves [11]
Olive Branch Operations Room (Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army)
- Victory Bloc
- First Legion
- Second Legion
- Third Legion[23]
----Southern front (non-TFSA units):
Democratic Federation of Northern Syria and allied forces
Syrian Democratic Forces
Afrin Region forces
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
International Freedom Battalion[54] and Peoples' United Revolutionary Movement[55]
Sinjar Alliance
Pro-government forces ("Popular Forces")[71] [72]
Notes and References
- Web site: British men prepare to fight Turkish-led forces in Syria. BBC . 24 January 2018 . 28 January 2018. en.
- News: Foreign Fighters Back Kurdish Militia in Syria in Fight Against Turkey. New York Times. 27 January 2018. 2 February 2018. Megan Specia. The New York Times .
- Web site: 5 February 2018. 3rd Commando Brigade.
- Web site: Turkish special forces and allied militias capture villages in Kurdish enclave . . 21 January 2018 . 2 February 2018.
- News: Son dakika: Hendek avcısı PÖH'ler ve JÖH'ler emir bekliyor! . 31 January 2018 . Milliyet . tr . 31 January 2018 .
- Web site: İntikal başladı! Afrin merkezde onlar da çatışmaya girecek! - Aydınlık. Aydınlık. Gazetesi. 2 December 2018.
- https://www.sabah.com.tr/gundem/2018/02/13/tskdan-flas-afrin-aciklamasi Son dakika: TSK'dan flaş Afrin açıklaması!
- http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/ozel-harekat-boyle-ugurlandi-40749906 Özel Harekat böyle uğurlandı
- Web site: Intelligence agency MİT playing active role in Turkey's Afrin operation . . 21 January 2018 . 30 January 2018.
- Web site: Erdogan's plans for Afrin might not sit well with Syria . Fehim Tastekin . . 26 January 2018 . 1 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180208025432/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/01/turkey-syria-does-erdogan-want-to-settle-in-afrin.html . 8 February 2018.
- Web site: The Turkish forces, the Gray Wolves and the factions advance in the west of Afrin and seek to wrap around a new village to expand their scope of control backed by intensive aerial and ground shelling. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). 30 January 2018.
- Web site: Syrian opposition seeks to clamp down on looting in Afrin . . Khaled al-Khateb . 29 March 2018 . 30 March 2018 .
- Web site: Kurdish National Council participates in aggression against Afrin . Hogir Nejjae . . 24 January 2018 . 24 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180128092112/http://en.hawarnews.com/kurdish-national-council-participates-in-aggression-against-afrin/ . 28 January 2018 . dead .
- Web site: Dozens of Kurds Fighting Under FSA Banner: Rebel Commander . Zaman al-Wasl . Syrian observer . 24 January 2018 . 24 January 2018 . 24 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180124113248/http://syrianobserver.com/EN/News/33755/Dozens_Kurds_Fighting_Under_FSA_Banner_Rebel_Commander . dead .
- Web site: هل تنجح "غصن الزيتون" بإجبار "الوحدات" على تسليم عفرين؟ . Will Olive Branch succeed in forcing the units to hand over Afrin? . Adnan Al Hussein . almodon . ar . 21 January 2017 . 1 February 2018.
- Web site: Who Are the Pro-Turkey Rebels Advancing on Syria's Afrin . . 22 January 2018 . 22 January 2018.
- Web site: Four dead for "units" Kurdish in Afrin region in confrontations with the "free" . . 9 August 2018 . 22 August 2018 . 13 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190413060305/https://smartnews-agency.com/ar/wires/315525/%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%84%D9%80-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%82%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D8%B9 . dead .
- Web site: Kurdish forces kill high ranking FSA commander in northern Afrin . Leith Aboufadel . . 23 January 2018 . 29 January 2018 . 19 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180919122747/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/kurdish-forces-kill-high-ranking-fsa-commander-northern-afrin/ . dead .
- Web site: Efrin'e saldıran çete gruplar ve arkasındaki güçler ? . Gang bands and forces behind Efrin? . . tr . 2 February 2018 . 11 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180212005156/http://tr.hawarnews.com/efrine-saldiran-cete-gruplar-ve-arkasindaki-gucler/ . 12 February 2018 . dead .
- News: Syria: Afrin Residents Blocked from Fleeing, Aid . . 8 April 2018 . 16 September 2018 .
- Web site: Turkish-backed rebels seize town in northern Afrin . . Leith Aboufadel . 31 January 2018 . 11 February 2018 . 12 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180212013651/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-backed-rebels-seize-town-northern-afrin/ . dead .
- Web site: Turkey sends 'Kurdish Falcon' force to Afrin to counter anti-Kurd image. Middle East Eye. Suraj Sharma. 16 February 2018.
- Web site: Senior In National Army To Qasioun: What Happened In Olive Branch Is Just A Beginning . Wissam Al-Ahmed . Talal Kharrat . Qasioun News . 29 January 2018 . 3 February 2018 . 24 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180924122823/https://www.qasioun-news.com/en/news/show/128502/Senior_In_National_Army_To_Qasioun_What_Happened_In_Olive_Branch_Is_Just_A_Beginning . dead .
- Web site: The Kurds of Syria are determined to defend themselves against the Turkish operation. Al-Hayat. 21 January 2018. 1 February 2018. 1 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180201194516/http://www.alhayat.com/Articles/26838487/%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B5%D9%85%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A3%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B3%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%83%D9%8A%D8%A9. dead.
- News: The Last of the Syrian Good-Guy Rebels . Lindsey Snell . . 30 July 2018 . 3 August 2018.
- Web site: The "Zanki" resolves itself and joins the "Corps of Glory" ... and the "Liberation of the Sham" muttered. Al-Modon. 26 March 2019.
- News: Nordland. Rod. Turkey's Worst Day Yet in Syria Offensive: At Least 7 Soldiers Killed. The New York Times . New York Times. 4 February 2018.
- Web site: Statement: Free Army Announces The Liberation Of The Entire City Of Afrin North Of Aleppo. RFS Media Office. 18 March 2018. 19 March 2018. 27 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181027094010/https://rfsmediaoffice.com/2018/03/18/%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86/. dead.
- News: Turkish tanks grind US policy into mud of northern Syria . . Hannah Lucinda Smith . 27 January 2018 . 7 February 2018.
- Web site: Turkey is planting the seeds for future catastrophe in Syria . Hassan Hassan . . 31 January 2018 . 2 February 2018.
- Web site: EXCLUSIVE: Afrin Battle Knocking The Doors And We Will Join It, Says Syrian Opposition Commander . Wissam Al-Ahmed . Talal Kharrat . Qasioun News . 16 January 2018 . 3 February 2018 . 3 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180203181523/http://qasioun-news.com/en/news/show/125384/EXCLUSIVE_Afrin_Battle_Knocking_The_Doors_And_We_Will_Join_It,_Says_Syrian_Opposition_Commander . dead .
- Web site: Syrian Opposition Senior Reveals To Qasioun The Latest Updates On Olive Branch Operation . Wissam Al-Ahmed . Talal Kharrat . Qasioun News . 27 January 2018 . 3 February 2018 . 3 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180303182531/http://qasioun-news.com/en/news/show/128024/Syrian_Opposition_Senior_Reveals_To_Qasioun_The_Latest_Updates_On_Olive_Branch_Operation . dead .
- Web site: In Idlib: "Free Army" Factions Receive Turkish Conditional Funding. Enab Baladi. 17 February 2018.
- Web site: Revolutionaries, pawns, liberators, or mercenaries? Meet the Kurdish fighters participating in Turkey's Afrin offensive. Syria Direct. Ammar Hammou. Maria Nelson. 5 February 2018.
- Web site: Kurdish fighters join Turkey's Afrin operation . Khaled al-Khateb . . 16 February 2018 . 17 February 2018.
- Web site: Hundreds of displaced residents make their way back to Afrin despite lingering 'obstacles' to return . Tariq Adely . Ammar Hamou . SYRIA:direct . 23 May 2018 . 23 August 2018 . 25 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180825041222/https://syriadirect.org/news/hundreds-of-displaced-residents-make-their-way-back-to-afrin-despite-lingering-%e2%80%98obstacles%e2%80%99-to-return/ . dead .
- News: We raised Combat readiness south-west of Afrin, Commander of 23rd Division military operations says . Syria Call . 22 January 2018 . 20 February 2018 . 26 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180126113934/http://nedaa-sy.com/en/news/3839 . dead .
- Web site: Syrian Rebel Brigades Participating in the Operation Olive Branch [18 January 2018]]. Suriye Gündemi. 18 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180519121822/http://en.suriyegundemi.com/syrian-rebel-brigades-participating-in-the-operation-olive-branch-18-january-2018/ . 19 May 2018.
- Web site: Hidden explosives stunt movement, frighten Afrin residents two months into pro-Turkish rule . Bahira al-Zarier . Justin Clark . Mohammad Abdulssattar Ibrahim . Ammar Hamou . SYRIA:direct . 14 May 2018 . 16 August 2018 .
- Web site: British men prepare to fight Turkish-led forces in Syria . Emma Vardy . . 24 January 2018 . 24 January 2018.
- Web site: Women from Kobane form a battalion to support Afrin . ANF News . 9 February 2018 . 11 February 2018.
- Web site: Afrin'de öldürülen teröristin kıyafetindeki peç detayı . Details about the terrorists killed in Afrin . . tr . 30 January 2018 . 12 February 2018.
- Web site: Jaysh al-Thuwar Commander: We are fighting alongside YPG/YPJ . ANF News . 22 January 2018 . 3 February 2018.
- Web site: Latest from Afrin and Shehba amid ongoing attacks . ANF News . 20 January 2018 . 3 February 2018.
- Web site: Revolutionary Shield declares readiness to respond to the attacks of the Turkish occupation. Firat News Agency. 27 January 2018.
- Web site: Breaking: Assyrian militia sends reinforcements to defend Afrin . Leith Aboufadel . . 29 January 2018 . 31 January 2018 . 31 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180131080944/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-assyrian-militia-sends-reinforcements-defend-afrin/ . dead .
- Web site: Syriac Military Council sends troops to Afrin . ANF News. 4 February 2018 . 18 February 2019.
- Web site: مقاتلون من إدلب: ندافع عن عفرين وعيوننا على تحرير إدلب . Idlib fighters: We defend Afrin and our eyes are on the liberation of Idlib . . ar . 26 January 2018 . 27 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180128021104/https://www.hawarnews.com/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8-%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86%D9%86%D8%A7/ . 28 January 2018 . dead .
- Web site: "We will withdraw our forces from east of Euphrates, send them to the fronts of Afrin" . Hawar News Agency. 6 March 2018 . 3 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180308041607/http://en.hawarnews.com/we-will-withdraw-our-forces-from-east-of-euphrates-send-them-to-the-fronts-of-afrin/ . 8 March 2018.
- Web site: After continued and heavy shelling since Wednesday…the Turkish forces and the factions of Operation "Olive Branch" take the control of about half of the city of Afrin . SOHR . 18 March 2018 . 18 March 2018.
- Web site: HPC: Struggling to protect our land, our people. Hawar News Agency. 21 January 2018 . 3 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180122181548/http://en.hawarnews.com/hpc-struggling-to-protect-our-land-our-people/ . 22 January 2018.
- Web site: Asayish Forces in Tirbe Sipi renewed martyrs bledge . . 31 January 2018 . 30 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180203064318/https://en.hawarnews.com/asayish-forces-in-tirbe-sipi-renewed-martyrs-bledge/ . 3 February 2018.
- Web site: Komalên Ciwan Efrîn'de hayatını kaybeden Navdar Serhat'ı andı . ANF News . tr . 26 March 2018 . 27 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180328041319/https://anfnews4.com/kurdistan/komalen-ciwan-efrin-da-hayatini-kaybeden-navdar-serhat-i-andi-105572 . 28 March 2018 . dead .
- Web site: Türkische Offensive in Nordsyrien. Deutsche kämpfen gegen Erdogan . Turkish offensive in northern Syria. Germans fight against Erdogan . Julian Röpcke . . 27 January 2018 . 28 January 2018.
- Web site: HBDH announces revolutionaries who lost their lives in Afrin . ANF News . 10 May 2018 . 17 February 2019.
- Web site: Turkish military offensive against Afrin : the Kurds are the victims of the contradictions between the imperialists . . 25 January 2018 . 28 January 2018.
- Web site: Efrîn'deki MLKP komutanı Viyan İsyan: Zafer bizim olacak . MLKP commander Viyan İsyan in Afrin: Victory will be ours . ETHA (Etkin Haber Ajansı) . tr . 27 January 2018 . 12 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180130090625/http://www.etha.com.tr/Haber/2018/01/27/dunya/efrindeki-mlkp-komutani-viyan-isyan-zafer-bizim-ol/ . 30 January 2018 . dead .
- Web site: Which red flag is flying? The communists defending Afrin . Marcel Cartier . The Region . 3 February 2018 . 21 February 2018 . 21 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180221161907/http://theregion.org/article/12710-which-red-flag-is-flying-the-communists-defending-afrin . dead .
- Web site: Full list of Kurdish YPG foreign fighters killed in Afrin battle (Photos) . . Andrew Illingworth . 30 March 2018 . 30 March 2018 . 30 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180330212917/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/full-list-of-kurdish-ypg-foreign-fighters-killed-in-afrin-battle-photos/ . dead .
- Web site: TKEP/L savaşçısı Kenan Aktaş Efrin'de ölümsüzleşti . TKEP/L fighter Kenan Aktas immortalized in Efrin . Yeni Demokrasi . Andrew Illingworth . tr . 13 March 2018 . 30 March 2018 .
- Web site: EÖT savaşçısı İzlandalı Haukur Hilmarsson şehit düştü . IFB Icelandic warrior Haukur Hilmarsson fell as martyr . ETHA (Etkin Haber Ajansı) . tr . 6 March 2018 . 6 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180306145728/http://www.etha.com.tr/Haber/2018/03/06/guncel/eot-savascisi-izlandali-haukur-hilmarsson-sehit-du/ . 6 March 2018 . dead .
- Web site: Rojava: Statement from Antifascist Forces in Afrin (AFFA) . Insurrection News . . 13 February 2018 . 21 February 2018.
- Web site: Politisiert durch den Krieg . Politicized by the war . Jan-Lukas Kuhley . . de . 21 February 2018 . 21 February 2018.
- Web site: Şehîd Şevger Ara Makhno – Caído en la defensa de Afrin. Rojava Azadi. Madrid. April 7, 2018. March 22, 2019. es.
- Web site: Statement from şehîd Şevger Ara Makhno's anarchist comrades in Rojava. March 4, 2019. March 22, 2019. Internationalist Commune.
- Web site: Un convoi de 5.000 Kurdes à Afrin contre l'invasion turque . A convoy of 5,000 Kurds in Afrin against the Turkish invasion . Jforum . fr . 6 February 2018 . 7 February 2018.
- Web site: 'Afrin Falcons' claim responsibility for city bombings . . 28 June 2018 . 29 August 2018.
- Web site: YPG rejects involvement in attacks by mysterious groups in Afrin . Wladimir van Wilgenburg . . 22 August 2018 . 29 August 2018.
- Web site: Afrin Liberation Forces hit invaders in Mare . ANF News . 21 January 2019 . 6 February 2019.
- Web site: Afrin Liberation Forces carried out 2 operations in Afrin . Hawar News Agency . 21 December 2018 . 6 February 2019.
- Web site: Syrian government forces deploy to Afrin-Idlib border to halt rebel advance . . 21 February 2018 . 22 February 2018 . 26 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180226051602/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-government-forces-deploy-afrin-idlib-border-halt-rebel-advance/ . dead .
- Web site: Turkish-backed forces advance in Afrin despite entry of pro-government militias . Ammar Hamou . Mohammad Abdulssattar Ibrahim . Avery Edelman . SYRIA:direct . 21 February 2018 . 23 August 2018 .
- Web site: Pro-Syrian government fighters start to enter Afrin - Hezbollah media unit. Reuters. Editorial. 28 September 2023 .
- Web site: Turkey shells Assad loyalists trying to cross into Syria's Afrin.
- http://www.rudaw.net/english/analysis/21022018
- Web site: Pro-Syrian government militia move into Kurdish-controlled Afrin despite Turkish warnings - Egypt Independent. 21 February 2018. Deutsche Welle.
- Web site: 'Esad rejimine bağlı güçler Afrin'e girdi' iddiası . . 20 February 2018 . 14 June 2018 .
- Web site: Turkey shells Assad loyalists trying to cross into Syria's Afrin . . 20 February 2018 . 19 March 2018.
- Web site: Syria: Pro-Damascus Popular Forces Enter Kurdish-Held Afrin despite Ankara's Disagreement . . 21 February 2018 . 19 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180319214346/http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961202000359 . 19 March 2018 . dead .