The following is a timeline of the Syrian Civil War from September–December 2019. Information about aggregated casualty counts is found at Casualties of the Syrian Civil War.
September 2019
Military Operations
On 10 September, the Syrian government began conducting aerial strikes against HTS controlled territory for the first time since August 31st. By 15 September, they had launched a total of 23 attacks against 18 different communities.
October 2019 Operation Peace Spring and U.S. withdrawal from northeast Syria
In October 2019, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring amid a U.S. withdrawal. In response to the Turkish offensive, Russia arranged for negotiations between the Syrian government in Damascus and the Kurdish-led forces. Russia also negotiated a renewal of a cease-fire between Kurds and Turkey that was about to expire.
The US withdrawal caused major policy debate amongst US officials. Some officials asserted that they had advised the Kurds for some time to reach some understanding with Turkey. "We did not give a military guarantee to the Kurds against Turkey..." said James Jeffrey at a hearing on 22 October. "In fact, much of our conversations with the Kurds [was] that you had to find some kind of political accommodation with Turkey because you couldn't count on us to keep the Turks out militarily."
Amid the Turkish offensive and U.S. withdrawal, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi announced that they were ready to partner with Russia and Bashar al-Assad's Syrian government, stating that "... if we have to choose between compromises and the genocide of our people, we will surely choose life for our people." According to Syrian Kurdish officials, the deal allowed Syrian government forces to take over security in some border areas, but their own administration would maintain control of local institutions. Syrian troops entered some key towns in northeastern Syria, including Manbij, Tell Tamer, Kobanî, and Ayn Issa,Ellen Francis, Tuvan Gumrukcu (14 October 2019), "Syrian troops enter northeastern town after deal with Kurdish forces - state media", Reuters."Syrian troops enter northern towns and villages, setting up a potential clash with Turkish-led forces", 15 October 2019, CNBC and took up position in some areas to oppose Turkish troops that were threatening various Kurdish forces.Syrian troops enter Kurdish fight against Turkish forces. Deal to support Kurds in exchange for key cities set to open new front in civil war. Michael Safi in Amman and Bethan McKernan in Akçakale 14 October 2019. The developments led to Kurdish concern that the independence of their declared Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES) in Rojava might be severely curtailed.
On 15 October, Russian forces began patrolling along the contact line between Turkish and Syrian government forces in northeast Syria, filling the security vacuum created by the sudden U.S. withdrawal. Video footage showed Russian soldiers and journalists touring a base that the U.S. left behind. Alexander Lavrentiev, Russia's special envoy on Syria, warned that the Turkish offensive into Syria was unacceptable and stated that Russia was seeking to prevent conflict between Turkish and Syrian troops.
Russia and Turkey made an agreement via the Sochi Agreement of 2019 to set up a Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone. Syrian President Assad expressed full support for the deal, as various terms of the agreement also applied to the Syrian government.Turkey and Russia agree on deal over buffer zone in northern Syria. Erdoğan hails agreement with Putin in which Kurdish fighters will be moved from border area. guardian.com. Following the creation of the Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone the SDF stated that it was ready to merge with the Syrian Army if when a political settlement between the Syrian government and the SDF is achieved. The Syrian Democratic Council said it was ready to have positive discussions with the Assad government. They said their focus would shift to stopping the Turkish invasion.Lawk Ghafuri (2 November 2019) "Syrian Democratic Council : We are ready to start negotiating with Damascus", rudaw.net.
On 30 October, the recently negotiated Syrian Constitutional Committee held its inaugural meeting.
November 2019 In November 2019, refugees in Northeast Syria reported they had received no help from international aid organizations.Ignorance of aid organisations exacerbates the situation of IDPs Hundreds of thousands have fled home due to the attacks of the AKP regime and its gangs on Northern Syria. The living conditions of the refugees are being exacerbated by the ignorance of international aid organisations. ANF Hesekê, 13 November 2019.
On 20 November 2019, a new Syrian Constitutional Committee, with about 150 members, began discussing a new settlement and to draft a new constitution for Syria. The committee includes representatives of the Syrian government, opposition groups, and countries serving as guarantors of the process such as Russia. However, this committee has faced strong opposition from the Syrian government. 50 of the committee members represent the Assad government, and 50 members represent the opposition. The committee began working in November 2019 in Geneva, under UN auspices. However, the Syrian government delegation left on the second day of the process. Qah was struck by a ground-to-ground missile from the Syrian government with Russian and Iranian support. It killed at least 16 people. The United States strongly condemned the attack.
On 24 November, pro-government forces launched a new Idlib offensive, the largest offensive by the Syrian government in Idlib in more than three months.
73 were killed and more than 172 were injured in the November 2019 Syria bombings.
December 2019 Military operations On 2 December, air strikes carried out by Syrian government forces and Russia struck a fruit-and-vegetable market in Maarat al-Numan and another market in the area of Saraqib, in Idlib, killing at least 15 civilians.Syria: Civilians killed in government air strikes in Idlib province. 2 December 2019. Middle East Eye. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
On 7 December, in Idlib province, Russian air strikes killed at least nine people in an attack that hit a market in the village of Balyoun and another four people in a strike on the village of al-Bara.Russian, Syrian air strikes kill at least 20 civilians in northwest Syria: Monitor. 7 December 2019. Middle East Eye. Retrieved 22 August 2020. Five more people were killed in a barrel bomb attack by Syrian government helicopters on the village of Abdita. Barrel bombs killed two more people in the villages of Jebghas and Tel Minis. Eight children were among the dead.
On 19 December Syrian and its allies launched a military operation on Syrian opposition forces located in Idlib Governorate.
With the Syrian army advances on rebel-controlled territory and the encirclement of Turkish outposts, President Erdogan said that Turkish forces would not withdraw from any position.
On 23 December, Russian airstrikes hit the district of Maarat al-Numan, as well as a number of villages overnight in Idlib, killed at least nine civilians.Russian airstrikes kill 9 civilians in Idlib. 23 December 2019. Hurriyet Daily News. Retrieved 22 August 2020. Russian planes also targeted the routes Syrians took towards the Turkish border to escape the bombings on the residential area.
On 25 December, Syrian troops closed in on the town of Maaret al-Numan.
On 30 December 2019, the US launched air strikes in Syria against rebel groups allied with Iran.
New arrangements on the ground It appeared that Turkey was withdrawing all of its forces away from the al-Shirkark silos, which hold important supplies of wheat, this seemed to be a result of Russian mediation.What is happening in al-Shirkark silos in Ain Issa district? The Turkish occupation army withdrew from al-Shirkrak silo, according it seems agreement with Russia, while yesterday, the Russian forces headed with the Syrian regime to remove mines in the silos' vicinity, we have no precise information about the forces which will be stationed in the silos. 10 December 2019 Ain Issa – Sharvin Mustafa. hawarnews.com However, some reports said they later returned to re-occupy that area.Turkish forces re-occupy the wheat silo they retreated from. Ain Issa Tuesday, 10 December 2019.
Russia said it would pledge to remove Turkish forces from a key highway in northern Syria, and replace them with Russian forces to maintain stability.Karwan Faidhi Dri (5 December 2019) "Russia has pledged to remove Turkish forces from strategic highway", Rudaw.net. Russian and Turkish forces are continuing their joint patrols. Questions remained about how much control Turkey has over its proxies, such as the Syrian National Army.Life on the Front Lines in Northern Syria; With echoes of shelling from Turkish-allied forces nearby, families sheltering in abandoned villages wonder when they can go home. By Jade Sacker, 23 November 2019.
Turkey has begun to appoint local mayors and governors in several northern Syrian towns.Karwan Faidhi Dri (6 December 2019), "Turkey appoints mayors in recently invaded northern Syrian towns", Rudaw.net. They have also appointed about 4,000 police officers and other local officials, and are providing some basic local services for citizens."Turkey to appoint 4,000 police officers to Syria" , 7 December 2019, ahvalnews.com.
There were some reports that Turkey has become more involved with local infrastructure in areas that it controls. Some local schools had been provided with some teachers and curriculum components.Seth J. Frantzman (8 December 2019), "Turkey's changing story on Syria: From self-defense to long-term control. Turkey's narrative is slowly changing on its expanding role in northern Syria". The Jerusalem Post. Erdogan said that Turkey expected to resettle about 1 million refugees in that area, and called for more support from the EU and from world organizations."Erdogan says world cares more about Syria's oil than its children" WSAU, 17 December 2019.Erdogan urges resettling of 1 million refugees in northern Syria. Turkish president says formula needed to allow refugees to return on a voluntary basis but in 'short period of time'.Turkey says EU should increase funding of Syrian refugees beyond $6.6bn pledged.EU funds support 3.5 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, as Syria's civil war has killed hundreds of thousands and pushed millions from their homes."Migrant wave calls EU-Turkey deal into question - report" . 17 December 2019 ahvalnews.com. The number of migrants crossing from Turkey into Europe doubled in 2019 to 70,000, raising questions about whether the 2016 EU-Turkey migrant deal is still effective, Deutsche Welle reported, citing a confidential EU report.Migrant arrivals in Europe from Turkey nearly double in 2019. According to a confidential EU report, 70,000 migrants have crossed from Turkey to the EU this year. The numbers raise questions about whether an EU-Turkey refugee deal is unravelling."Turkish official says EU should boost funding of Syrian refugees", Middle East Monitor, 15 December 2019.Marty Johnson (17 December 2019), "Turkish President Erdoğan calls for resettlement of 1M refugees in northern Syria", The Hill.
Some protesters in Syria had blamed Turkey for the latest Syrian attacks on Idlib. They claim that the rebel groups posted near Idlib are largely akin to mercenary groups answering to Turkey. It is unclear whether there was strong evidence for this allegation. Meanwhile, as Turkey considers sending some elements of these groups to Libya, it heightened such allegations.
Humanitarian situation