BREAKING: Did the Turkish Armed Forces Enter Syria? Conflicting Reports Emerge

Summary:

According to Turkish daily Sözcü, footage allegedly shows Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) convoys crossing into Syria late last night through Afrin, Ras al-Ayn (Rasulayn) and northern Aleppo, advancing toward the Manbij line. The deployment is reported to be reinforcement from the Zeytin Dalı (Olive Branch) zone, supported by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Meanwhile, the Syrian government is said to have sent additional troops toward Deir ez-Zor. However, there is no confirmation from international media, while Kurdish outlet Rudaw cites SDF commanders denying any unusual military movement.

The report claims armored units affiliated with the 7th Corps under the 2nd Army Command entered Syria via the Deyr Ballut and Advaniyah crossings. The column reportedly moved toward Manbij and was monitored in real time through UAV surveillance linked to the operation command center. The activity has been interpreted by some analysts as a “no concessions” signal toward the SDF. Sözcü frames the deployment as a reinforcement mission to support Turkish forces stationed in Afrin.

Yet foreign sources have not verified the claim. Speaking to Rudaw, senior SDF commander Abu Omar al-Idlibi stated that no direct entry of Turkish forces into Manbij has taken place and no abnormal reinforcements were detected in Deir ez-Zor or Ras al-Ayn. “Until this moment, there have been no serious field developments,” he said, adding that current forces continue normal duties and accusing some media reports of exaggeration and psychological warfare. Rudaw noted that Turkish outlets circulated video purportedly showing new military deployments in northern Syrian towns under Türkiye-backed control, including Afrin, Manbij and Ras al-Ayn.

The timing is notable, coming days after Turkish Chief of General Staff Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu reportedly met interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus. The content of that meeting remains undisclosed. It also follows the first anniversary of Bashar al-Assad’s regime transition, and the March 10 agreement signed between SDF chief Mazloum Abdi and Sharaa concerning the future administration of Rojava — an arrangement Türkiye has cautiously welcomed while continuing to classify the SDF as a national security threat due to links with the PKK.

At present, the situation remains unconfirmed and contradictory. Turkish media presents evidence of movement, while SDF leadership insists there is no major escalation. No international agency has independently authenticated the footage or troop activity.

We continue monitoring developments closely.

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