Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

An internally displaced Kurdish family in northern Iraq, 2016 (Maranie R. Staab)

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Incident Code

TS007 CS371

Incident date

November 13, 2016

Location

مدينة الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians were reported killed and three injured in ‘Coalition’ strikes on Al Bab. However, other reports claimed that Turkey and its FSA allies may have been responsible.

Sky News reported that Turkish tanks were advancing on Al Bab, while France 24 described Turkish airstrikes on the city. Reporting casualties, Halab News said “an unidentified man and woman were killed, following coalition raids on al Bab and they are civilians from the town.”

All 4 Syria said that both the Coalition and Turkey conducted strikes on the city: “Extensive Turkish air strikes in Al Bab destroyed four buildings and a car used by IS while coalition carried out six airstrikes and killed ten IS fighters. However, Al Amaq reported the death of a civilian and three others wounded due to Turkish tank bombardment.”

ISIS’s media wing also reported civilian casualties, initially noting “one dead and three civilians injured – one of them in a critical condition – following Turkish artillery bombardment of the city of Al Bab in the Aleppo countryside.” It also reported US airstrikes alongside Turkish artillery attacks.

In August 2017 the US-led alliance denied responsibility for the event, stating: “After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (مدينة الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Bab, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For November 12th-13th, the Coalition reported no strikes in Aleppo governorate.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, US-led Coalition

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS033

Incident date

December 28, 2016

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Al Bab Al Hadath reported that Qadro Al-Jadeed and his family were killed in a Turkish airstrike “a few days ago” on December 31st.

There is currently no more information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Qadro Al-Jadeed
Adult male

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI009

Incident date

September 20, 2017

Location

شمال العراق, North of Iraq, Iraq

Geolocation

36.915000, 44.041944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that the Turkish air force had bombed sites belonging to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party in north Iraq – though there was no information available on civilian harm as a result of these actions.

RT reported that “the Turkish army said on Thursday that the shelling hit targets in the mountainous regions of Zab, Afashin and Baysan in northern Iraq, close to the border with Turkey. The army gave no further details on the timing of the strike or targets, but confirmed that all the aircraft had returned safely.”

According to Alrafdain, “The Turkish Air Force announced that the Turkish planes bombed the camps of the Workers ‘Party militia. This resulted in the destruction of weapons and ammunition stores as part of the Turkish forces’ campaign in south and south-eastern Turkey and northern Iraq.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the province/governorate of North of Iraq (شمال العراق), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.915000, 44.041944. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI052

Incident date

December 7, 2020

Location

رشاوه, Vicinity of Reshava, Dohuk, Iraq

Geolocation

37.09909, 43.64744 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on the town of Deraluk, Dohuk governorate, on December 7th, 2020, according to local sources. The bodies of the three men were found on December 12th.

On December 12th, Roj News reported: “On December 7th, three civilians from the Derelok district of Amed were bombed by Turkish planes while they were on their fields in the village of Zêwê. No news had been received from them since that day. The bodies of all three citizens were found today.”

Rudaw reported that the relatives Muhsin Speri (64), Hassan Sadiq (56) and Safar Sini (54) from the Nêrwehi tribe went camping on Mount Matin when their families lost contact with the men. According to the source, all three men were retired Peshmerga from Deraluk’s Amedi sub-district.

Sleman Speri, Muhsin’s brother, told Rudaw: “When he didn’t call after four days, we knew something was wrong… A few days ago we got news that Turkey had bombed the mountain.” The family then set out to search for the missing men.

Rudaw posted a video of the retrieving of the bodies of the victims. Arsala Mohammed, a relative of the victims, stated: “When we found the bodies, all three were badly mutilated. It was very, very bad. It was hard for us to come back here. The path was rocky and narrow. It took us half an hour to get the bodies down from the mountain.

The Turkish Ministry of Defence did confirm to have “neutralised” five PKK members in airstrikes on Gara Mountain, west of Deraluk, around the same time that the three men were killed, reported Rudaw.

Duhok province governor Ali Tatar responded to the incident, telling Kurdistan24: “Unfortunately, the PKK presence inside Kurdistan Region’s territories and the armed clashes with the Turkish army has become a cause of great destruction for the people living in those areas. (..) When people are trying to visit their lands and homes, you see them killed and injured by airstrikes, and these acts are inhumane.”

Adam Gnych, who reported on the incident, provided Airwars with excerpts from an interview with Baxtiyar Speri, Muhsin Speri’s son: “It was December 2nd, my father went to the mountains to look for wild bees, which he does seasonally to buy bread for the family. The economic crisis and corona have made it very hard for our family, so he had to go more often. He left on December 2nd, we found his corpse on December 12. For eight days no one informed us about what happened to them.”

Baxtiyar talked about finding the mens’ bodies: “When we found the bodies, Hassan and Safar were both close to where the rocket hit it, and my father was about 50 to 100 meters away from them. It was clear that he had been injured and had crawled in order to look for help…. They were hit by drones, and the rocket was mostly shrapnel… Safar’s body was cut to half, and Hassan lost a leg and an arm, but my father’s body was intact”.

According to the victims son the incident happened “far from the closest road, around three to four hours walking distance.”

Baxtyar said “This area has turned into to a military zone, we are losing our loved ones in the crossfire. We have to sneak into our own lands because the PKK doesn’t let us even light a fire, and the Turkish planes are dropping bombs every day…It doesn’t matter how much we cry for the Kurdish government, and even the government in Baghdad wouldn’t be able to do anything. Even the Turks can’t control the area and the PKK is using the Doski, Rekan and Nerwayi lands as they wish. Our lands would never be free from bloodshed.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhsin Haci
64 years old male killed
Sefer Selim
54 years old male killed
Hasan Sadiq
56 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Baxtyar Speri greets mourners on the second day of his father’s funeral in the town of Deraluk, December 2020. Muhsin Speri, 64 was killed alongside Hassan Sadiq and Safar Sini whilst the men were on a foraging trip north of the town. (Image courtesy of The Guardian)
  • Muhsin Haci, Sefer Selim and Hesen Sadiq were killed in alleged Turkish strikes on Deraluk, Iraqi Kurdistan, on December 7th, 2020 (via Roj News).
  • Civilians at the site in the aftermath of alleged Turkish airstrikes on the town of Deraluk, Iraqi Kurdistan, on December 7th, 2020 (via @BaxtiyarGoran).
  • The aftermath of alleged Turkish airstrikes on the town of Deraluk, Iraqi Kurdistan, on December 7th, 2020 (via @BaxtiyarGoran).
  • Sefer Selim (54) was killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Deraluk on December 7th, 2020 (via @DefteraRes).
  • Hasan Sadiq (56) was killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Deraluk on December 7th, 2020 (via @DefteraRes).
  • Muhsin Haci (64) was killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Deraluk on December 7th, 2020 (via @DefteraRes).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the valley in the vicinity of Reshava (رشاوه) village. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Reshava are: 37.09909, 43.64744.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI078

Incident date

May 21, 2022

Location

اأغجلر, Aghjalar, Sulaimani, Iraq

Geolocation

35.817025, 44.698458 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed and at least one other civilian was injured in alleged Turkish drone strikes on the road near the village of Tutaqal in Aghjalar on May 21, 2022.

Rudaw News reported that two alleged Turkish drones struck a vehicle traveling in the subdistrict of Aghjalar killing five passengers, including at least two members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Rudaw News quoted the mayor of Aghjalar, Hemin Bahjat, who said “targeted a PKK base and a Toyota Hilux vehicle which carried four passengers who were all killed. According to initial reports, two of the passengers were locals while two others were PKK fighters.” The mayor later added that another person was killed in the attack and that “we could not confirm that there were PKK fighters inside the car, because all the five persons were burnt up”.

Various sources specifically identified the incident as occurring in Tutaqal village, Kurdistan24 adding that it is located “at the foothills of Khal Khalan”. Rudaw News also quoted a resident of Tutaqal village, Halo Zahir, who told Rudaw’s Rawchi Hassan that the vehicle belonged to the PKK. Images posted by Rudaw News show extensive damage to the pickup truck allegedly hit by Turkish drone strikes.

A citizen of the village of Tutaqal told Rudaw News that one of the people killed was named Aram Kaka Khan, who was from the people of Tutaqal, and the second citizen was called Ismael, who was from the village of (Jalamrda) in the borders of Ağcılar district.”

Segirt News reported that the civilians were killed when the came to provide assistance to the PKK fighters who were wounded in the initial bombing, and then all five were killed in the subsequent bombing.

A tweet from @cptiraq laid out the series of events that occurred: “On May 21st , the Turkish war planes bombed Tutaqal village of Aghjalar town at 5:15 a.m. At 9:00 a.m, the mukhtar of Tutaqal, Aram Haji Kaka Khan, and his brother-in-law Ismaeil Ibrahim, went to the area that was bombed earlier that morning. They found three injured PKK guerilla members at the bombing site. Aram tried to drive the injured people to the Aghjalar hospital. But the Turkish drones bombed his vehicle at 9:35 a.m., killing him, his brother-in-law, and the three guerilla members.”

Adil Majeed, relative of the victims, told The New Arab “Early today the Turkish drones were initially targeting some PKK fighters who were based in a rural jungle from Tutaqal village, then the drones were observing all cars in the area. It seems some of the PKK fighters were wounded and they sought help from civilian cars in a nearby road, consequently the drones attacked the pick-up car, and killed two of my cousins who were from working as farmers.” Majeed added that his two cousins were survivors of the 1988 Anfal genocide.

Head of Aghjalar district administration, Hemin Bahjat, told BasNews that “initial reports indicate that at least three of the killed were members of the PKK” and that there were “unconfirmed reports of destruction of a PKK military base near Dutaqal village of Aghjalar, in the vicinity of Chamchamal.” ANF quoted Roj News Agency, which reported that a civilian car was struck on the road between the villages of Tutaqal and Galmurd, resulting in the death of five civilians and another wounded.

A security source in Chamchamal confirmed to Hawar News that the bombing of the village led to the death of “5 citizens and the injury of another”. The source added that the bodies had been transferred to forensic medicine and their identifies had not been identified yet. Segirt quoted a forensic source in Chamchamal who told AFP “two bodies from the people of the Chamchamal area arrived at the city hospital, and then were transferred to the forensic medicine office in Sulaymaniyah.”

According to Rudaw, the official Turkish state news agency Anadolu Agency reported that one of the people killed was a HPG commander named Mehmet Dooganan, also known as ‘Dilxaz Gabar’.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the drone strikes to Turkey. Kurdistan24 quoted a local sources that said that “Turkish drones are still flying over the area, which has also prevented Kurdish security forces from entering the area.”

The incident occured at approximately 9:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Aram Kaka Khan
Age unknown male killed
Ismaeil Ibrahim
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Map showing the location where the drone strikes occurred, published by Rudaw News
  • Destruction to a pickup truck caused by alleged Turkish drone strikes in Aghjalar on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • Destruction to a pickup truck caused by alleged Turkish drone strikes in Aghjalar on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • Destruction to a pickup truck caused by alleged Turkish drone strikes in Aghjalar on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • Destruction to a pickup truck caused by alleged Turkish drone strikes in Aghjalar on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • Destruction to a pickup truck caused by alleged Turkish drone strikes in Aghjalar on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • Smoke from the car struck by a drone in Aghjalar on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by Kurdistan24)
  • Two of the victims killed in alleged Turkish drone strikes on Chamchamal on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by @RebwarAhmad88)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle struck on the road between the villages of Tutaqal (توتاقلي) and Galmurd (جلمورد). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the Tutaqal-Galmurd road are: 35.817025, 44.698458.

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Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS535

Incident date

July 26, 2022

Location

قرية شيخ عيسى , Sheikh Issa village, Tal Rifaat, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.478306, 37.146936 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and three to five civilians were injured as a result of an alleged Turkish attack on Sheikh Issa village, in Tal Rifaat, Aleppo, Syria on July 26th 2022.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that three women and a man were injured, whilst ANHA Arabic reported that six women were injured. According to the ANHA news correspondent, the names of those injured were Rawash Rasho, aged 50, Lamia Hassan, aged 41, Kawthar Mustafa, aged 17, Fawzia Rasho, aged, 20 years old, Sawsan Mustafa and Atriya Shobak, aged 20 and that all of them were transferred to the hospital for treatment.

On August 1, 2022, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that one of the women that was injured died from the injuries she sustained.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over 50 rocket and artillery shells were fired, most which landed in this area, along with the flying of Turkish reconnaissance aircraft in the area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rawash Rasho
50 years old female injured
Lamia Hassan
41 years old female injured
Kawthar Mustafa
17 years old male injured
Fawzia Rasho
20 years old female injured
Sawsan Mustafa
Age unknown female injured
Atriya Shobak
20 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Between four and six civilians were injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Sheikh Issa village, Aleppo on July 26th 2022 (Image via ANHA Arabic / Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sheikh Issa (قرية شيخ عيسى ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.478306, 37.146936. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS560

Incident date

October 12, 2022

Location

شيراوا, Sherawa district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.466500, 36.887006 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

36.464198, 36.866351 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map 36.410735, 36.862676 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three women, including a pregnant woman, were killed and children were injured in clashes between Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and Turkish forces-associated Levant Front in the Sherawa district of Afrin on October 12, 2022.

Hawar News reported that three women, including a pregnant woman, were killed and children were injured in the clashes, specifically artillery shelling and tanks, between Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Levant Front in occupied Afrin. A local source told Hawar that the casualties occurred in the villages of Burj Abdalo, Karzila and Ain Dara in Sherawa district, and that the pregnant woman named Fatima Mahmoud al-Abed that was killed was from the village of Karzila.

Al Khabour posted on Facebook that one of the women was killed by artillery shelling by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham on the village of Burj Abdalo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also identified a woman as being killed by “indiscriminate bullets and shrapnel” but did not specify which village in Sherawa district.

A video posted by Ahmad M. Ahmad shows the moment a shell fell on the home of a civilian in the village of Karzila.

Source were conflicted as to whether the casualties were caused by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Levant Front, a Turkish proxy fighting force.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fatima Mahmoud al-Abed
Adult female pregnant killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Rebel Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims of clashes between Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Levant Front in Afrin on October 12, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • What is happening since this morning in the city of Afrin and its environs is fierce battles between the armed factions affiliated with Turkey. Artillery shelling targeting the vicinity of the city of Afrin at these moments. Violent clashes in the villages of Shirawa district, extending to the outskirts of Afrin. - Violent clashes inside the village of Karzila/Krzyhel in Shirawa district. -According to a call I had with my parents inside the Jindires district, the sounds of violent clashes are heard from the south of the district, and the clashes are concentrated in the villages of Deir Ballut and Muhammadiyah. The video below shows the moment a shell fell on the house of a civilian in the village of Karzila / Karzyhel. "We wish safety to our people in the city of Afrin and its villages"

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the villages of Karzila (قرزيحل), Ayn Dara (عين دارة), and Burj Abdalo (برج عبد الله). The generic coordinates for Karzila are: 36.466500, 36.887006. The generic coordinates for Ayn Dara are: 36.464198, 36.866351. The generic coordinates for Burj Abdalo are: 36.410735, 36.862676. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the locations further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Rebel Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Rebel Forces
  • Rebel Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Rebel Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS599

Incident date

June 12, 2023

Location

كوباني, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.889115, 38.350168 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 3 civilians were injured in an alleged Turkish drone strike killed two Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters by a petrol station near the southern entrance of Kobani at 11:55am on June 12, 2023.

The North Press quoted a medical source at the al-Amal Hospital in Kobani city who reported that 22 year old male Alaa Abdurrazaq Ibrahim had their hand amputated while sustaining injuries to their liver and kidneys, 28 year old male Khabat Adham had their legs and a hand amputated, and 25 year old male Muhammad Bahjat Ayoub fractured their jaw and as of last reporting was receiving surgery for an injury to their main artery by their jaw. The medical source emphasized that all three of the men were seriously injured.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that a total of five civilians were injured by the drone strike.

The two SDF fighters were reported to have been travelling on a motorcycle on the Kobani-Aleppo road when the strike occurred. Images shared by SOHR detail extensive damage to the motorcycle which was damaged to near unrecognition. At this time, no military has claimed the attack while all of the local sources attributed the strike to Turkish drones.

Both Hawar News and ANF identified the location of the strike as occurring on the Aleppo road at the southern entrance to Kobani, with SOHR specifying a gas station as the location.

The incident occured at 11:55:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Khabat Adham
28 years old male injured
Alaa Abdurrazaq Ibrahim
22 years old male injured
Muhammad Bahjat Ayoub
25 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A motorcycle destroyed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on Kobani on June 12, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • A Turkish drone bombed at 11:55 a.m. today, Monday; A motorcycle on the Aleppo road at the southern entrance to the city of Kobani.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Kobani (كوباني), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.889115, 38.350168. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (5) [ collapse]