Second Battle of Ras al-Ayn (2019)

The second Battle of Ras al-Ayn was a battle in the Syrian Civil War as a part of the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria. The battle was fought between Turkish Armed Forces, allied Syrian Rebels and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The battle resulted in the capture of Ras al-Ayn by Turkish/TFSA forces on 20 October.
Background
The battle began with the start of 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria on 9 October 2019. Turkish forces targetted two border towns as part of the operation, the city of Ras al-ayn and Tel Abyad, 120 kilometres to its west.
Battle
Initial movements
Turkish and TFSA forward troops crossed into Syria, moving close to Ras Al-Ayn on 9 October. The town was initially targeted by artillery and aerial bombing by the Turkish Air Force, which resulted in some of the civilian population fleeing the area, heading south. Reinforced Turkish units proceeded to move towards the town later in the day.
Turkish forces move into Ras al-Ayn
On 12 October, more substantive Turkish forces attacked the town, moving into it, with some reports that Turkish forces had moved into the center of the town. At the same time, the SDF did a tactical retreat, pulling back before the Turkish forces in response to a Turkish artillery bombardment of their position. Clashes continued in the Industrial district. Turkish troops continued to move into the town, gaining control of the Ras al-Ayn's residential center, with some Turkish media sources claiming that the town had been completely captured. However, SDF troops showed video of themselves still in the town, continuing to engage the Turkish forces. On 13 October Kurdish politician and secretary general of the Future Syria Party, Hervin Khalaf and a number of unarmed civilians were executed outside the town, caught on a road, by the TFSA.. A convoy of SDF supporters, with International Media, was attacked near Ras Al ain, It had been attempting to go to the city to show support. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Turkish airforce had attacked the column, killing 14 people and wounding 10
SDF Counteroffensive
On 13 October, SDF launched a counteroffensive, pushing back Turkish military and recapturing key points of the town, including the industrial district. By 15 October, the SDF had fully recaptured the town, according to SOHR, and repelled attacks from four groups of TFSA SDF had prepared extensive tunnels under Ras al-Ayn, and used them to launch attacks on Turkish and TFSA units in the town.. Nevertheless Turkish and TFSA units managed to continue their operation, capturing a large part of the center of the town, following heavy bombardment of the town by airstrikes
Ras al-Ayn sieged and ceasefire
On 17 October Turkish and SNA forces completely besieged and captured half of Ras al-Ayn after getting around the town and cutting off the roads leading to it amid heavy clashes according to SOHR.
Later in the day, the US government and Turkey agreed on a 5 day ceasefire deal, to allow the SDF to withdraw from the 20 mile safe-zone on the Turkish border. SDF said they only accepted the ceasefire in the area between Tall Abyad and Ras al-Ayn, the SDF rejected withdrawing from the entire 20 mile area and handing it over to Turkey as calling it an occupation Clashes continued in the town despite the ceasefire, both sides accused each other of ceasefire violations. Red Crescent ambulances reported they could not reach the town to evacuate the wounded SDF fighters on the first day of the ceasefire.. Turkey and the SDF blamed each other for the ceasefire violations, with the SDF stating that the town was surrounded during the ceasefire and wounded could not be evacuated.
On the 17th of October, an airstrike from Turkish airforce wounded some residents of the city, with allegations that white phosphorus had been used against civilians. Syrian medics treating 5 wounded civilians that were evacuated to Hasakah, showed the media burns on the victims they said were consistent with the use of white phosphorus. Turkey denied the allegations.
On the 18th of October, a large convoy of 80 cars and 400 civilians, including people who had from traveled to Derik, Qamishlo, Til Temir and Heseke, attempted to get to Ras al Ayn from Til Temri to provide humanitarian aid. It was blocked from entry by TFSA soldiers, according to the SDF. In the afternoon the SDF said an aid convoy had been let through, after having been prevented from entering the town since Thursday.
Syrian Arab Army units for the first time confronted the Turkish and TFSA units near Ras Al-Rayn, with speculation by the media that the could join the combat on the SDF side and lift the siege of the city by the TFSA.
On the 20th of October, the Heyva Sor (Kurdish Red crescent) were allowed into the town, and evacuated 30 injured people, both civilians and soldiers. The medical team noted that the town, was running low on supplies. The Hospital itself had come under attack in a TFSA attempt to capture it.
Turkish and TFSA forces in the town captured a large ammunition cache from the SDF and outside the town, captured a number of villages to the east of Ras Al-Ain, backed by Turkish tanks, but within a few hours, the villages were recaptured by the SDF
SDF Withdrawal as part of US brokered deal
On the third day after the town was fully encircled, the SDF on the 20th of October announced they would be withdrawing from Ras Al Ayn, to comply with the US brokered deal with Turkey. Some SDF forces started withdrawing, accompanied by some of the civilian residents, who also left afraid of the Turkish allied militias. The SDF commander who announced the deal, said the SDF would withdraw back to the 30km area imposed by the ceasefire conditions, only after the civilians and soldiers were allowed to evacuate from Ras al-ayn . Despite the ceasefire, the town was still sporadically shelled and occasional gunfights had broken out. SDF troops completely withdrew from the city on the 20th of October, with an SDF Spokesperson saying that no SDF troops were left in the town on the Sunday 86 vehicles left the town, taking SDF troops to Tal Tamer, about 40 kilometres south of Ras Al-Ain. A few hundred civilians also left the town with the SDF.. Turkish and TFSA units captured the town later in the day.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu