Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS478

Incident date

November 9, 2021

Location

الهلالية, al-Hilaliya, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.051495, 41.198363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three civilian men, including a 70 year old man, were killed in alleged Turkish drone strikes on a vehicle in the al-Hilaliya neighborhood in the city of Qamishli on November 9, 2021.

The North Press Agency reported that three people were killed in a Turkish drone strike in the al-Hilaliya neighborhood in the city of Qamishli. Furat News Agency referred to the three people killed as being civilians.

According to the sources of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the person who was targeted in the explosion is a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces’ leadership’s advisory, but he was not in the targeted car at the time of the strikes. Instead, the explosion resulted in the death of his grandfather, his brother and a third of their relatives. At the time of reporting, they believed that the explosion could’ve been caused by a Turkish drone or an explosive device planted in the car.

Rudaw News also reported that the vehicle that was destroyed was an armored vehicle that belonged to the SDF and that the strike killed his brother Mazloum Gilo, and two of their relatives Yousef Gilo and Mohammed Gilo.

A tweet from @slmhktn refers to “PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) members” being in the car but does not specify who among the victims was a PKK member.

Images provided by local sources show a white SUV on fire in the middle of a residential neighborhood in the city of Qamishli, with residents and rescue teams trying to put out the fire. Tasrebat quoted a source that reported that ambulances transported the bodies of the victims, which were charred as a result of the fire, to the Khabat Military Hospital in the city.

Nalia Media Corporation added that the strike occurred at 3pm local time and that the drone belonged to Turkish forces.

The incident occured at approximately 3:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Yousef Gilo
70 years old male
Mazloum Gilo
male
Mohammed Gilo
male

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a car struck in the Al Hilaliya (الهلالية) neighbourhood of the city of Qamishli (قامشلي). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 37.051495, 41.198363.

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  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    @LaqsLaqs16

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 men)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Flames engulf a car following alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by Furat News Agency)
  • Alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by BasNews)
  • Crowds gather around a burning car, with the fires caused by alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Crowds gather around a burning car, with the fires caused by alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by @LaqsLaqs16)
  • Crowds gather around a burning car, with the fires caused by alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by @LaqsLaqs16)
  • Flames engulf a car following alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by @LaqsLaqs16)
  • Flames engulf a car following alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by @LaqsLaqs16)
  • Victims of the drone strike and resulting fire caused by alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by @wrongname46)
  • Damage to the vehicle from the drone strike and resulting fire caused by alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by @wrongname46)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 men)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (16) [ collapse]