ConflictBarometer_2016

MIDDLE EAST AND MAGHREB
publicly reiterated his demand for a''safe zone” in northern
Syria and called for an international ground operation on
February 20. The Syrian government accused Turkey of conducting
operations on the ground inside Syrian territory on
February 16. Throughout the first half of the year, Turkish
government officials denied any intention for such activities.
On June 17, the new appointed Turkish Prime Minister Binali
Yıldırım stated that Turkey could not be enemies with Syria
forever and that there was aneed to normalize the relationship
between the two states. He reaffirmed this statement
on July 13. On August 24, Turkish artillery and fighter jets
shelled the Syrian city of Jarabulus, Aleppo governorate, held
by the so-called Islamic State (IS), while Turkish ground forces
and tanks crossed the border. The Turkish Foreign Minister
declared that the operation ''Euphrates Shield” was aimed at
clearing the southern Turkish border region from IS [→ Syria,
Iraq et al. (IS)]. The same day, the Syrian government condemned
the Turkish intervention as a flagrant violation of Syrian
sovereignty. On October 13, Syrian President Bashar al-
Assad expressed hopes that Russian President Vladimir Putin
could change Turkey's position towards Syria. On the next
day, he accused Turkey of supporting armed opposition forces
in Aleppo. On November 26, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister
Numan Kurtulmus renewed the Turkish demand for the resignation
of al-Assad. aje
SYRIA, IRAQ ET AL. (IS)
Intensity: 5 | Change: | Start: 2014
Conflict parties: IS, Sunni tribes vs. al-Sham Front,
FSA, GNC, Hezbollah, Jabhat al-Nusra,
KRG, PFG, SDF, Shiite militants, Sunni
tribesmen, al-Houthis, US-led coalition,
Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan,
Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Tunesia,
Turkey, Saudi-Arabia, Taliban
Conflict items: system/ideology, resources
The war over the orientation of the international system and
the control of resources such as oil between the so-called Islamic
State (IS), on the one hand, and Syria and Iraq as well as
other governments and several militant groups, on the other,
continued.
Following its founding on 06/29/14 by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi,
IS had brought a large territory in Syria and Iraq under its
control, implemented sharia law, and set up state-like administration
as well as social services. Due to large-scale mobilization
on social media, many foreign fighters from over a
hundred countries had joined the group. IS had expanded its
operations to Afghanistan, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, and Algeria
in 2014, followed by Yemen, Tunisia, and Turkey in 2015
as well as Saudi-Arabia in 2016. Outside the Middle East
and Maghreb region IS operated in Pakistan [→ Pakistan (Islamist
militant groups)]. Various militant groups in the Middle
188
East and Maghreb and other parts of the world had pledged
allegiance to IS, including an al-Shabaab faction, a Boko
Haram faction, the Caucasus Emirate, the Islamic Movement
of Uzbekistan as well as Taliban splinter groups, Jemaah Islamiyah,
Abu Sayyaf, and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters
[→ Somalia, Kenya (al-Shabaab); Nigeria (Boko Haram);
Russia (Islamist militants / Northern Caucasus); Afghanistan
(Taliban et al.); Tajikistan (Islamist militant groups); Indonesia
(Islamist militant groups); Philippines (Abu Sayyaf); Philippines
(BIFF, BIFM –MILF, government). In order to halt the
advances of IS, aUS-led coalition had started to launch air
strikes in Iraq in August 2014, expanding operations to Syria
under the name ''Operation Inherent Resolve” one month
later. Russia had justified its military intervention in Syria
starting in September 2015 with the fight against radical Islamist
militants, referring to IS and Jabhat al-Nusra [→ Syria
(opposition)]. This year, IS claimed responsibility for attacks in
Indonesia, Belgium, Bangladesh, Jordan, and Germany. (ska)
SYRIA
In Syria, IS fought against the government of Bashar al-Assad,
the Free Syrian Army (FSA), other Islamist militants, and the
Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). IS lost previously
gained territory in the northern parts of Aleppo, ar-Raqqa, and
al-Hasakah Governorates. Most of Deir ez-Zor Governorate
remained under IS control. Moreover, IS advanced significantly
in Homs Governorate. The US-led air strikes continued
throughout the year, mostly targeting IS sites in Aleppo and
ar-Raqqa.
In Aleppo Governorate, IS was mainly involved in clashes with
government forces, FSA fighters, and SDF fighters. Moreover,
Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) launched the military operation
''Euphrates Shield” in cooperation with FSA fighters and the
US-led coalition in northern Aleppo beginning on August 24.
The aim of the operation was to clear the border region from
IS militants and to prevent the Kurdish People's Protection
Units (YPG), which were part of the SDF, from forming an area
under Kurdish control in northern Syria.
Between March 9 and 10, pro-government forces recaptured
13 villages from IS in southeastern Aleppo, forcing IS to partly
withdraw. On April 7, FSA fighters, allied with Turkey, attacked
IS at the border town of al-Rai, seizing it the same day. IS recaptured
al-Rai as well as at least ten other villages during a
counteroffensive between April 9and 15. However, clashes
continued until the US-backed FSA-affiliates Hawar Kilis Operations
Room fully seized the town with support of Turkish
cross-border artillery fire on August 17. On April 16, IS took
control of refugee camps in northern Aleppo and forced at
least 30,000 civilians to flee to the Turkish border. In southern
Aleppo, IS conducted an offensive against government
forces and captured ten villages near the government-held
town of Khanasser after heavy clashes on April 16. On May
5, Turkey deployed at least 15 special operation forces in
northern Syria to locate IS rocket launchers. The same day,
Turkish and US cross-border air strikes as well as artillery fire
killed 50 IS fighters. End of May, IS cut off the main road linking
the opposition-strongholds Mare'a and Azaz town. As IS
advanced in the area, at least 100,000 civilians fled and were
trapped near the Turkish border. Subsequently, opposition
groups in Mare'a unified to combat IS and lifted the IS siege
on Mare'a and Azaz by June 8.