Turkey may be planning Syrian invasion

The so-called Islamic State is fending off attacks from all sides in Syria, and there are growing indications that a Turkish ground invasion could add to the militant group’s list of concerns

Jarabulus

Turkey wants to clear IS from buffer

zone along Turkey-Syria border

TURKEY

Kobane

Tal Abyad

Manbij

Afrin

Azaz

Ain Issa

Al Bab

Euphrates

River

Aleppo

Raqqa

Self-declared

IS capital

20km

Idlib

12 miles

Detail map

TURKEY

SYRIA

AREAS OF CONTROL

(as of Jan 18, 2016)

IRAQ

Syrian regime and allies

SYRIA

So-called Islamic State (IS)

militant group / Daesh

LEBANON

Damascus

Kurdish YPG / Syrian

Democratic Forces (SDF)

200km

120 miles

Other rebel groups

JORDAN

Engaged in mine clearing

Turkey:

Forces moving

Syrian regime:

operation near border town of

Jarabulus, indicating possible start

point for invasion. Plan reportedly

discussed by Russia and U.S. –

Russia would not obstruct Turkish

efforts, providing buffer zone is not

expanded to Mediterranean Sea

northwards from Aleppo towards

Al Bab, backed by Russian airstrikes

Fighters predominantly

Rebels:

from Turkish-backed Mare Operations

Room advancing east along Syrian

border, looking to gain ground from

IS. Rebels aided by increased

Turkish artillery strikes along border,

which could indicate efforts by Turkey

to soften up IS targets prior to

ground invasion

Advancing on

Kurds / SDF:

IS-controlled town of Manbij after

crossing Euphrates River, despite

Turkish opposition to move

Sources: Stratfor, IUCA