Military operations

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed late on Oct. 23 that the PKK/YPG terror group had withdrawn from the area in northern Syria where Turkey has been conducting Operation Peace Spring.

Between the beginning of the 120-hour pause in Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 17 and Oct. 21, some 125 vehicles belonging to members of the YPG had left the planned safe zone and headed in the direction of al-Hasakah city, security sources said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Oct. 19 that all of the nearly 1,000 troops withdrawing from northern Syria are expected to move to western Iraq to continue the campaign against ISIL militants and "to help defend Iraq."

Turkey's cross-border counterterrorism operation with the Syrian National Army (SNA) in northern Syria will conclude when the public order on the two sides of the border is secured, a senior Turkish official has said. 

The number of terrorists Turkey has "neutralized" in its anti-terror military operation into northeast Syria has risen to 595, the Defense Ministry announced on Oct. 15.

Turkish troops have taken control of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain border towns of Syria, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Oct. 14.
"Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ain are under control. Work for the control of the region is ongoing," he told reporters after his meeting with the leader of opposition İYİ (Good) Party, Meral Akşener.

Turkish air forces have hit an ammunition truck of the YPG on Oct. 14, video footage has shown.

The city center of Syria's Tal Abyad district has been cleared of YPG/PKK terrorists on Oct. 13 in Turkey's ongoing military operation.

Russia on Oct. 11 blocked a statement at the UN Security Council that called for a halt to Turkey's military operation in northeastern Syria.

Eight more civilians were killed and 35 others were injured in southeastern Turkey on Oct. 11 in a YPG mortar attack from  across the border in northern Syria.