Documents to download

  • On 6 October 2019, a statement from the US White House said that the US president, Donald Trump, had spoken with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğ It said that Turkey would be beginning a “long-planned” military operation in Northern Syria. US armed forces would not “support or be involved” in the operation and they would “no longer be in the immediate area”. The statement also said that Turkey would now be responsible for all ISIS fighters captured over the past two years.
  • Turkey’s military operation in Northern Syria began on 9 October 2019 as part of “Operation Peace Spring”. Mr Erdoğan said the operation was targeted against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party), the YPG (People’s Protection Units) and ISIS. Its aim was to prevent the creation of a “terror corridor” across Turkey’s southern border, neutralise terror threats to Turkey and to establish a safe zone that would “facilitate return of Syrian refugees to their homes”.
  • On 14 October 2019, Donald Trump announced that he would issue an executive order imposing sanctions “against current and former officials” in the Turkish government, and “any persons contributing to Turkey’s destabilizing actions in northeast Syria”.
  • On 15 October 2019, the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, made a statement to the House of Commons condemning Turkey’s military action. Mr Raab stated that the UK would be keeping its defence exports to Turkey under continuous review. He explained that the UK would not grant further export licences to Turkey “for items that might be used in military operations in Syria […] while we conduct that review”.
  • On 17 October 2019, the US and Turkey reached agreement on a ceasefire in the region. The UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, spoke with President Erdoğan on 20 October 2019. Mr Johnson welcomed the agreement and said that the temporary suspension in fighting was a step in the right direction although concern remained about the military operation. The Prime Minister and the Turkish President agreed to try to meet alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the current situation.

Documents to download

Related posts

  • Convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine

    The UK is a signatory to the convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine. The commission would assess claims for compensation for damage and losses caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has broadly welcomed the convention, but also raised concerns about the scope and efficacy of the commission.

    Convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine
  • National Security (State Threats) Bill: HL Bill 35 of 2026–27

    The National Security (State Threats) Bill would create new powers for the home secretary to designate bodies engaged in state threat activity, equivalent to the proscription of terrorist organisations under the Terrorism Act 2000. The bill would create three new offences associated with designation of supporting, assisting, or receiving material benefit from a designated body. These offences would carry sentences of up to 14 years’ imprisonment.

    National Security (State Threats) Bill: HL Bill 35 of 2026–27
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina: Political and security situation

    Recent tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina have raised concerns about stability and security in the country, particularly due to reports of external influence and recent secessionist rhetoric in Republika Srpska. This briefing outlines recent developments, international responses and the UK government’s position on Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of a House of Lords debate on the subject.

    Bosnia and Herzegovina: Political and security situation