A look at what’s going on in eastern Syria

Himbervan Kose

Oct 11, 2019

Smoke†rises†over the†Syrian†town†of†Ras†al-Ain, as seen†from†the Turkish†border†town†of Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa province, Turkey, October 10, 2019. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RC155FC93160 — Smoke rises over the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain, as seen from the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa province, Turkey, Oct. 10, 2019. — REUTERS/Murad Sezer

عربي

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Oct. 9 the launch of the Turkish military operation in the Kurdish region east of the Euphrates River in Syria. The Turkish army codenamed the operation Spring of Peace.

Ankara’s government launched airstrikes and artillery in the area, leaving thousands of displaced people from the towns of Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ain (Sri Canet). The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has estimated that some 60,000 civilians have fled since the operation began.