Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TI053A

Incident date

January 22, 2021

Location

كري , Gri, Duhok, Iraq

Geolocation

37.19087, 42.9706 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were reported injured and hundreds of sheep killed as a result of alleged Turkish bombing of three areas in Kurdistan on January 22nd, 2021.

The first bombed area was Gri in Duhok’s Chamanke district, at the foot of Gara mountain near the border with Turkey. Mohammed Sheikhzade, a villager there whose two brothers got injured told Rudaw “Turkish warplanes bombarded the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) positions today at 2:30pm. A bomb hit near our house, breaking the window glass. As a result, my brothers Salih, 10, and Islam, 15, were injured due to the broken glass.” This information was confirmed by the mayor of Chamanke.

Turkey’s Defence Minister allegedly said they ‘neutralized’ four PKK fighters in the Gara area. (Which could mean killed, injured or captured).

According to Rudaw, Turkish warplanes hit a barn in Chikan village in the Choman district of Erbil province, killing hundreds of sheep. @BaxtiyarGoran tweeted images of dead sheep resulting from the attack.

The third area bombed was Gundazhur village in Haji Omran district of Erbil, but no casualties were reported from that one, according to the mayor. The Turkish ministry of defence again said they ‘neutralized’ three PKK fighters.

The incident occured at 14:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

10 years old male injured
15 years old male injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Gri, also known as Kara (كري), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.19087, 42.9706. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sheep killed as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes on Chikan village in the Choman district of Erbil province on January 22nd, 2021. (image via @BaxtiyarGoran)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sheep killed as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes on Chikan village in the Choman district of Erbil province on January 22nd, 2021. (image via @BaxtiyarGoran)

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (3) [ collapse]