Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS644

Incident date

Location

الخالدية, Khalidiya village, Ain Essa countryside, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Saturday, October 7th, 2023, an alleged Turkish artillery shelling in Khalidiya village, located in the Ain Essa countryside, Syria, reportedly killed an elderly woman and injured at least one other person, her husband.

Numerous sources, such as Facebook page Ehlê Qamişlo, have named the deceased woman as Amsha Muhammad Hilal Al-Baqer, aged 65, and her injured husband as Muhammad Al-Khalaf Al-Ali, aged 70. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), referring to Raqqa Governorate, along with North Syria network reported that two of their children were also injured while other sources only mentioned the husband’s injury. However, no further details were shared.

SOHR reported that the elderly woman and her husband’s house was shelled by Turkish forces who were bombing military sites belonging to the Syrian Democratic Forces. However, according to Ehle Qamishlo, the attack was part of efforts by the Turkish military to strike “civilians who were denouncing the Turkish… attacks in front of a Russian forces base in the village of Al-Khalidiya”.

Devastating photographs of Amsha Hilal Al-Baqer deceased and Muhammad Al-Khalaf Al-Ali being treated in hospital were shared by multiple sources, such as Rojava Post.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to Turkish military.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Amsha al-Bakari عمشة هلال الباقر
65 years old female Wife killed
Muhammad al-Ali محمد الخلف العلي
70 years old male Husband injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rojava facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rojava facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rojava facebook

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (7) [ collapse]