- 'Operation Peace Spring' -

On October 9, 2019, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launches operation "Peace Spring" against Kurdish-led forces in Syria.

He says the offensive targets the "terrorists" of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia and the Islamic State group.

Erdogan also wants to establish a "safe zone" on the Syrian side of the border where Turkey could send back some of the 3.6 million refugees it hosts from the eight-year civil war.

The border towns of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad both come under heavy Turkish air bombardment. The ground offensive begins hours later.

- International outcry -

US President Donald Trump calls the Turkish incursion a "bad idea".

Yet it was Washington's withdrawal two days earlier of US troops in northern Syria near the Turkish border that cleared the way for the offensive.

Several countries including many in Europe express concern for civilians in the targeted areas, and the fighting sparks fears that jihadists detained by the Kurds could escape.

- Jihadists -

The next day, Turkish forces escalate their bombardment as the YPG-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fight to halt their advance.

Kurdish officials say five IS prisoners have escaped from a facility in the border city of Qamishli housing mostly foreign jihadists, after shelling nearby.

The Kurdish administration says some 12,000 men are held in seven detention centres across Kurdish-controlled areas.

On October 13, Kurdish authorities say nearly 800 relatives of foreign members of IS have escaped from a displacement camp in Ain Issa.

- Damascus sends in troops -

That same day Turkish forces and their proxies seize Tal Abyad, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor.

In the evening the Kurdish administration, which accuses Washington of having abandoned it, announces a deal with the Damascus government on a Syrian troop deployment near the border with Turkey.

On October 14, the Syrian regime sends troops towards the border. The next day they take full control of Manbij. Russian troops patrol the area to prevent Turkish-Syrian clashes.

On October 16, Syrian regime troops and Russian soldiers deploy in the key border town of Kobane.

- Offensive suspended -

On October 17, fighting continues to rage, especially in Ras al-Ain.

Vice President Mike Pence, on a visit to Ankara, reaches a deal with Erdogan that Turkey will suspend its offensive for five days on the condition that Kurdish fighters retreat from areas in northeastern Syria.

Pence says the US will lift all its sanctions on Turkey following the withdrawal and a complete end to Turkey's military operation.

Kurdish forces say they are ready to respect the ceasefire, but they and Ankara accuse each other of violating it.

On October 20 Kurdish fighters withdraw from the Turkish-encircled Ras al-Ain.

The next day Turkey outlines its plans for a 120-kilometre (75-mile) safe zone between Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain, that it would later extend to 444 kilometres.

- 'Historic agreement' with Moscow -

After talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on October 22, Erdogan hails "a historic agreement" with Moscow in which the two agree to ensure Kurdish forces withdraw from the border area within 150 hours.