Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS480

Incident date

December 21, 2021

Location

زركان, Zarkan, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.675824, 40.437171 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three civilians, including two women, were killed and up to nine others, including three children, were injured in alleged Turkish artillery or airstrikes on the town of Zarkan and surrounding areas on December 21, 2021.

According to Hawar News, three civilians were killed and four other civilians were injured when Turkish forces bombed the town of Zarkan. Hawar also provided the names of the victims: “Malikat Ahmed Al-Eid, 30, and her elderly mother, Faslat Al-Eid, 60” from the village of Rabi’at, and the citizen Saleh Hamid from the village of Al-Asadiya as well as the injury of 4 civilians, the 50-year-old citizen “Ahmed Mohammed Al-Fars“, and 3 children “Judy Al-Eid, 4 years old, Juri Al-Eid, 11 years old, and Ahmed Al-Eid, 8 years old,” in addition to the injury of 3 members of the Damascus government forces in the town of Zarkan.

Rumaf News also reported that three civilians were killed, including a woman and her child, and the injury of three children, in addition to six other people injured in the Zarkan countryside. Rumaf attributed the casualties to Turkish artillery shelling. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights pointed out that of the “more than six others injured in separate areas in the countryside” some were in serious condition and had been transferred to Qamishli hospitals.

All of the sources that reported on the incident identified Turkish forces as being responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

malikat 'ahmad aleid ملكة أحمد العيد
30 years old female from the village of Rabi’at killed
Faslat Al-Eid فصلة العيد
60 years old female from the village of Rabi’at killed
Judy Al-Eid
4 years old injured
Juri Al-Eid جوري العيد
11 years old injured
Ahmed Al-Eid
8 years old injured

The victims were named as:

Saleh Hamid صالح حميد
60 years old from the village of Al-Asadiy killed
Ahmed Mohammed Al-Fars أحمد محمد الفارس
50 years old injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Zarkan (زركان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.675824, 40.437171. 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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–9
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by Turkish artillery shelling of the villages of the Zarkan countryside on December 21, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Damage caused by Turkish artillery shelling of the villages of the Zarkan countryside on December 21, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Damage caused by Turkish artillery shelling of the villages of the Zarkan countryside on December 21, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–9
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3

Sources (5) [ collapse]