page_title: Operation Euphrates Shield
section_title: Clashes between SDF, ISIS and rebels: western al-Bab offensive (18 October – 3 November)
hierarchical_section_title: Operation Euphrates Shield / The campaign / Clashes between SDF, ISIS and rebels: western al-Bab offensive (18 October – 3 November)
caption_attribution_description: English: A Free Syrian Army fighter loads an M2 Browning heavy machine gun on a technical in northern Aleppo.
context_page_description: Operation Euphrates Shield was a cross-border military operation conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces and Turkey-aligned Syrian opposition groups in the Syrian civil war which led to the Turkish occupation of northern Syria. Operations were carried out in the region between the Euphrates river to the east and the Syrian rebel-held area around Azaz to the west. The Turkish military and Turkey-aligned Syrian rebel groups, some of which used the Free Syrian Army label, fought against both the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, from 24 August 2016. On 29 March 2017, the Turkish military officially announced that Operation Euphrates Shield was "successfully completed".
  The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on the first day of the operation that it was aimed against both the Islamic State and the People's Protection Units. The long-threatened capture of Manbij, under the de facto control of the Rojava administration, remains unfulfilled. The Turkish occupation of northern Syria is ongoing.
context_section_description: On 17 October, Turkish troops and Turkish-backed FSA forces started their offensive headed towards al-Bab and captured 7 villages in the first day, namely; Guzhe, Baruze, al-Wash, aq-Burqan, Qar Kelbin, Talatayna and Shudud. After the first day of the offensive, rebels reduced their distance to al-Bab to as low as 15 km.
  On 18 October, the Northern Thunder Brigade issued an ultimatum to the "PKK" and the Army of Revolutionaries, warning them to leave Tell Rifaat within 48 hours after which they will attack the town. On 19 October, following capturing the last remaining IS-held villages between the control line of the SDF, Turkey-backed rebels started an offensive towards the SDF positions in Shahba region and Tell Rifaat with Turkish support. Following the first days of clashes and strikes, the Turkish army said that its air strikes have killed 160 to 200 YPG members with maximum care for civilians. Syrian government sources however reported around such a number of civilians killed. SDF sources reported 11 fighters from their ranks killed. SOHR stated that death toll was around 20, possible 4 civilians included.
  On 22 October, first reports gains were announced by the rebel factions, namely 2 to 3 villages, which later turned out to be untrue. Turkish-backed rebels surrounded Shaykh Issa, just east of Tell Rifaat. Turkish artillery shelling and air strikes mainly focused on Tell Rifaat, Shaykh Issa and villages under SDF control in western al-Bab. Turkish tanks entered Syria also from the west, from Hatay region into Idlib region, to the southernmost point of the PYD-held Afrin canton and positioned on hills overlooking Tel Rifat and Afrin.
  By 25 October, it became evident that the SDF had repelled all assaults by Turkish-backed rebels on villages and positions under its control. ANHA stated that the "failures and casualties" despite "major" Turkish support had "demoralized" rebel groups and caused their retreat from further attacks against the SDF. Of the commanders from the Northern Thunder Brigade who issued the ultimatum, one was reportedly killed in action and one was seriously injured. In a counterattack, the SDF stated to have captured two villages from the rebels.
caption: A Turkish-backed FSA fighter loads an M2 Browning during the fighting in northern Aleppo Governorate
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