Photo: TRT
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One week has passed since Turkey started the "Operation Peace Spring" into northern Syria in a bid to clear the region from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and its ally Syrian National Army (SNA), also known as the Free Syrian Army (FSA) captured the border cities of Tel Abyad (Gire Sipi) and Ras al-Ayn (Serekaniye), Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar said yesterday (October 14).
Following the withdrawal of the US troops, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) troops entered Manbij city. The SNA also announced yesterday that it has launched an operation to capture the city from Syrian and SDF forces.
Syrian state-run agency SANA reported that the SAA entered Manbij, Raqqa, Tabqa, Ain Issa, Hasakah and Tel Tamer, following an agreement with the SDF.
Here are the day-by-day developments in the operation:
October 9: Operation began with TSK jets bombed Ras al-Ayn. TSK announced on the same day that its troops began to enter Tal Abyad.
October 10: SNA entered Tel Abyad at noon and Ras al-Ayn at night. The Defense Ministry announced that Ras al-Ayn border crossing and 11 villages around the city were captured from the SDF.
October 11: TSK and SNA captured 18 villages around Ras al-Ayn and Tal Abyad.
October 12: The Defense Ministry announced that SNA entered Ras al-Ayn city center and the operation forces reached the M4 highway which is about 30 kilometers away from the border.
October 13: TSK and SNA entered Tal Abyad city center as well as one town and 56 villages around the city.
The SDF reportedly reached a military agreement with the Syrian government to hand over several cities and towns to the SAA.
October 14: The SAA entered Tel Tamer near Ras al-Ayn and Ain Issa near Raqqa around 04.30 a.m., according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based monitor. US soldiers left their posts in Ain Issa the day before.
The SNA announced that it launched an operation to capture Manbij.
October 15: SANA reported that the SAA entered Manbij.
Map: TRT
Sources: SANA, BBC, Rudaw, Sputnik and TRT