Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

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

Belligerent
Turkish Military
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

TS282

Incident date

March 17, 2018

Location

سري كانيه, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.391667, 36.693056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to ANF, hundreds of civilians were killed as a vehicle convoy carrying Turkish warplanes targeted the civilians who were escaping from invasion attacks on Saturday.

Locals say that the convoy was carrying more than 300 civilians and most of them were killed in the attack.

However, it should be noted that Jindires was already under Turkish control when this incident was reported. The event has therefore been discounted by Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    300
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jindires, Afrin ( سري كانيه), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.391667, 36.693056. 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
    300
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS029

Incident date

December 22, 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

Between 23 and 94 civilians were killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Al Bab, Syria, according to local media.

Al Jazeera reported the lowest death toll at 20 and refered to the ISIS media agency Al A’amaq as the source. Later Al A’amaq itself said the toll rose to 50.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights described “The death of 23 civilians because of Euphrates Shield forces missiles and shells fired on Al Bab city in Aleppo governorate suburbs, December 22, SNHR yet unable to verify the news, 2016.”

7al said 32 civilians died in the attack, whereas Russia Today reported 72 people dead.

Al Bab News posted on Facebook that “nearly 18 members of the al Shalash family, most of them women and children, killed following Turkish bombardment on al Bab.”

Halab News gave the highest death count at 91 and named many of the victims. Al Bab News reported the same names and said 45 more people were injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Jaafar Omar Ne'ma
Adult male killed
Wife of Jaafar Omar Ne'ma
Adult female killed
Child of Jaafar Omar Ne'ma
Child killed
Child of Jaafar Omar Ne'ma
Child killed
Child of Jaafar Omar Ne'ma
Child killed
Child of Jaafar Omar Ne'ma
Child killed

Family members (19)

Unknown victim from the Asfour family
Adult killed
Unknown victim from the Asfour family
Adult killed
Unknown victim from the Asfour family
Adult killed
Unknown victim from the Asfour family
Adult killed
Unknown victim from the Asfour family
Adult killed
Unknown victim from the Asfour family
Adult killed
Unknown victim from the Asfour family
Adult killed
Unknown victim from the Asfour family
Adult killed
Unknown victim from the Asfour family
Adult killed
Unknown victim from the Asfour family
Adult killed
Unknown victim from the Asfour family
Adult killed
Unknown victim from the Asfour family
Adult killed
Unknown victim from the Asfour family
Adult killed
Ahmed Hussein Al-Asfour
Adult male killed
Wife of Ahmed Hussein Al-Asfour
Adult female killed
Son of Ahmed Hussein al-Asfour
Child male killed
Son of Ahmed Hussein al-Asfour
Child male killed
Daughter of Ahmed Hussein al-Asfour
Child female killed
Daughter of Ahmed Hussein al-Asfour
Child female killed

Family members (6)

Member of the Abo family
Adult female killed
Member of the Abo family
Adult male killed
Child from the Abo family
Child killed
Child from the Abo family
Child killed
Child from the Abo family
Child killed
Child from the Abo family
Child killed

Family members (2)

Member of the Fadel Sabbagh family
Adult killed
Member of the Fadel Sabbagh family
Adult killed

Family members (28)

Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed
Member of the Shalash family
Adult killed

Family members (3)

Member of the Kazakaz family
Adult killed
Member of the Kazakaz family
Adult killed
Member of the Kazakaz family
Adult killed

Family members (11)

Member of the Naunu family
Adult killed
Member of the Naunu family
Adult killed
Member of the Naunu family
Adult killed
Member of the Naunu family
Adult killed
Member of the Naunu family
Adult killed
Member of the Naunu family
Adult killed
Member of the Naunu family
Adult killed
Member of the Naunu family
Adult killed
Member of the Naunu family
Adult killed
Member of the Naunu family
Adult killed
Member of the Naunu family
killed

Family members (6)

Member of the Ghazal family
Adult killed
Member of the Ghazal family
Adult killed
Member of the Ghazal family
Adult killed
Member of the Ghazal family
Adult killed
Member of the Ghazal family
Adult killed
Member of the Ghazal family
Adult killed

Family members (2)

Mustafa Mahmoud al-Sukkar
Adult male killed
Wife of Mustafa Mahmoud al-Sukkar
Adult female killed

Family members (4)

Jafar Bertawi
Adult male killed
Wife of Jafar Bertawi
Adult female killed
Mohamed Jaafar Bertawi
Child male killed
Fatima Jafar Bertawi
Child female killed

Family members (4)

Mahmood al-Naama
Adult male killed
Wife of Mahmood al-Naama
Adult female killed
Mahmud al-Naama
Child male killed
Yusuf Mahmud al-Naama
Child male killed

The victims were named as:

Member of the al-Uday family
Adult female killed
Child from the village of Qarodi
Child killed
Ibrahim Qabalawi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    23 – 94
  • (16 children9 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    45
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Some of the victims of the mass civilian causality incident in Al Bab, Aleppo on 22nd December 2016. (via Aleppo 24)

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
    23 – 94
  • (16 children9 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    45
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS498 TS081

Incident date

February 16, 2017

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.5179666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 18 and 50 civilians died in an airstrike on Al Bab, according to local sources. While the Syrian Network for Human Rights, reported that ten civilians including two children and four women died in an alleged Coalition airstrie, other sources blamed Tiurkey.

A second report by SN4HR said that “International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on the makeshift hospital in Al Bab city in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs, severely damaging its building and rendering it inoperable”.

However, Syria News Desk reported that the “Turkish army targeted the eastern neighborhoods in al Bab with several air strikes and artillery shells, resulting in deaths of 23 civilians, including children”.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “Ibrahim Adel Al Shehabi, a dentist, died along with his children in Der’ Al Furat forces artillery (supported by Turkish forces) shells fired on Al Bab city.”

They also reported the death of three civilians from the same family including a woman.

The Syrian Observatory also attributed the incident to Turkey, reporting that “a massacre was carried out by the Turkish forces, it is not the first one, and may not be the last, but it is a ring in a long series of massacres committed in al-Bab city. This time the victims of the massacre were 10 civilians from two families. They are a doctor and two of his sons under the age of 18, in addition to three men and three women and a child under the age of 18 from the same family. All of them were killed in the continuous Turkish artillery shelling and aerial bombardment on al-Bab city”.

Syria News Desk said that 23 or 25 civilians died from Turkish shelling.

France 24 wrote that 34 civilians were killed, 17 of them children.

Hara FM quoted the ISIS propaganda outlet Al A’amaq who gave the highest death toll at 50.

Al Jazeera did not mention civilian harm but said 77 targets in Al Bab were hit by the Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Adult male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed

Family members (10)

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown female killed
Child male killed
Child male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed

Family members (3)

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Mahmoud al Baki
Age unknown male killed
Abd al Basset Kadro al Dibo
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 50
  • (2 children5 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Turkish Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    'A’maq: 50 civilian martyrs by shelling on the door of the eastern suburb of Aleppo'
  • 'Photos of the city # of al bab of the eastern end of the mountain shows clear smoke poles in the city because of the clashes and shelling currently underway, and there is no truth to the news that the city is liberated or free of civilians.' (via Al bab city and its neighbourhood coordination)
  • 'Photos of the city # of al bab of the eastern end of the mountain shows clear smoke poles in the city because of the clashes and shelling currently underway, and there is no truth to the news that the city is liberated or free of civilians.' (via Al bab city and its neighbourhood coordination)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al-Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.5179666. 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

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 (Aleppo), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV5821365352
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 16th-17th, the Coalition reported: “Near Al Bab, one strike destroyed a decoy tactical vehicle.”

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 50
  • (2 children5 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Turkish Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS075

Incident date

February 6, 2017

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

Between 12 and 47 civilians, likely from one family, reportedly died in an alleged Turkish shelling on Al Bab, Syria.

LCCSY reported that there was a total of 26 dead in Aleppo on that day, the majority of which in Aleppo and the rest in Al Bab.

The Syrian Network of Human Rights said that “19 civilians, including five children under the age of 18 and four females were killed in shelling by the Turkish forces and warplanes on areas in Al Bab city.”

Alaraby provided the highest toll with 47 civilians dead resulting from over 300 shells that fell on Al Bab. Additionally, 20 people were still expected to be under rubble.

Al Bab 24 reported 27 dead and 30 injured and listed the names.

It added that there might be more victims under the rubble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Al Ghawi family member
Age unknown killed
Al Ghawi family member
Age unknown killed
Al Ghawi family member
Age unknown killed
Al Ghawi family member
killed
Al Ghawi family member
Age unknown killed
Al Ghawi family member
killed
Al Ghawi family member
Age unknown killed

Family members (5)

Family member of Abdallah Hattab
Age unknown Killed while fleeing the city killed
Family member of Abdallah Hattab
Age unknown Killed while fleeing the city killed
Family member of Abdallah Hattab
Age unknown Killed while fleeing the city killed
Family member of Abdallah Hattab
Age unknown Killed while fleeing the city killed
Family member of Abdallah Hattab
Age unknown Killed while fleeing the city killed

Family members (6)

Mohammad Tayssir Taleb
Adult male killed
Wife of Mohammad Tayssir Taleb
Adult female killed
Said, son of Mohammad Tayssir Taleb
Child male killed
Abd al Basset, son of Mohammad Tayssir Taleb
Child male killed
Daughter of Mohammad Tayssir Taleb
Child female killed
Daughter of Mohammad Tayssir Taleb
Child female killed

Family members (4)

Razzouk al Khudar
Adult male killed
Wife of Razzouk al Khudar
Adult female killed
Child of Razzouk al Khudar
Child killed
Child of Razzouk al Khudar
Child killed

The victims were named as:

Abdallah Hattab
Age unknown male Killed while fleeing the city killed
Ibtissam al Baqi
Age unknown female Killed while fleeing the city killed
Ahmad, son of Hajj Abdallah Abu Kasha
Child Injured in Al Bab a few days ago killed
Khalil Mansour
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 47
  • (5–7 children3–4 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (9) [ 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
    12 – 47
  • (5–7 children3–4 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS083 CS514

Incident date

February 20, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between 12 and 29 civilians including up to five children and five women died in airstrikes on Al Bab, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Turkey or the US-led Coalition.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented today a massacre that took the lives of a family of 11 men and a woman and a child, they were killed by raids by Turkish warplanes and the shells of their forces that fell on the city”.

Syria News Desk said that five children died in the Turkish bombing.

However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Coalition for the death of 12 civilians, including 5 children and 4 women”.

Al Hayat also pointed to the Coalition, reporting that “29 were killed and four buildings destroyed  in the coalition air strikes”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mohammad Kheir Omar Bat-hish
Adult male killed
his wife Hamida Bat-hish
Adult female killed

Family members (3)

Hussein al Haj Ahmad Bat-hish
Adult male killed
his wife Nadwa Hamdan
Adult female pregnant killed
7 month old foetus
Child killed

Family members (4)

Omar Hussein Bat-hish
Adult male killed
his wife
Adult female daughter of Adel al Najeh Al Hamdo al Saleh killed
Hissan Omar Bat-hish
4 years old male killed
Mohammad Omar Bat-hish
3 years old male killed

The victims were named as:

Unidentified child
1 years old female killed
the wife of Mahmoud Hussein Bat-hish
Adult female daughter of Alaa al Othman killed
the child Hassan Mahmoud Bat-hish
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 29
  • (4–5 children5 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Turkish Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab city (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.

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.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 2, 2017
  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient information available to determine if civilians were present or harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For February 19th-20th, the Coalition reported: “Near Al Bab, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.” For February 20th-21st, they reported: “Near Al Bab, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units, destroyed four ISIS-held buildings, and damaged an ISIS-held building.”

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 29
  • (4–5 children5 women4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Turkish Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS080

Incident date

February 15, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3709658, 37.5179666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and 26 civilians including many women and children were reportedly killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Al Bab.

Al Bab 24 posted on Facebook that “seven people were killed following Turkish air and artillery bombardment on Al Bab northeast of Aleppo.”

The ISIS propaganda outlet Al Raed La Ykazeb Ahlahu initially agreed with that reporting.

LCCSY said that 27 civilians in the Aleppo governorate were killed, most of them in Al Bab.

Al Raed La Ykazeb Ahlahu and the Hezbollah outlet Almanar TV both reported 50 civilians dead, most of them women and children in Al Bab “during the last three days” from February 15.

HNN gave the highest death toll at 26 and listed the victims:

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad al Hasri
Age unknown male killed
Joumana al Taweel
Age unknown female killed
Rama al Masri
Child female killed
Sidra al Masri
Child female killed
Bilal al Masri
Child male killed
Abir al Shalal
Age unknown male killed
Abdo Mohamamd al Hasri
Child male killed
Radwan Mohammad al Hasri
Child male killed
Rahaf Mohammad al Hasri
Child male killed
Hasnaa Al Hasri
Age unknown female killed
Hasnaa Al Hasri's sister
Age unknown female killed
Ghassan al Hasri
Adult male killed
Ghassan al Hasri's wife
Adult female killed
Huda al Shawwaf
Age unknown female killed
Ahmad Hassan al Suweid
Adult male killed
Ahmad Hassan al Suweid's wife
Adult female killed
Ahmad Hassan al Suweid's child
Child male killed
Ahmad Hassan al Suweid's child
Child female killed
Ahmad Mahmoud al Suweid
Adult male killed
Abd al Ghaffar Nassani's wife
Adult female killed
Abd al Ghaffar Nassani's child
Child female killed
Abd al Ghaffar Nassani's child
Child female killed
Abd al Ghaffar Nassani's child
Child male killed
Abd al Ghaffar Nassani's child
Child male killed
Mustapha al Sweid
Age unknown male killed
Fatima Khaled al Kahhat
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 26
  • (12 children3–8 women2–6 men)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.3709658, 37.5179666. 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
    7 – 26
  • (12 children3–8 women2–6 men)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS420 TS030

Incident date

December 23, 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

Between 20 and 25 civilians died in a Turkish (or less likely Coalition) raid on al Bab.

According to ISIS’s media wing, “Turkish planes committed a new massacre in al Bab for the second day running – initial toll of 20 dead.”

Umayya reported the death toll as being possibly even higher than 25: “The number of people killed in Turkish airstrikes on the city of Bab on Friday rose to more than 25, mostly civilians, including seven children and ten women, including four families killed in the rubble of their homes, in addition to dozens of injuries.”

Graphic images posted on social media showed several slaim children.

LCCSY was the only source to attribute the attack to the US-led Coalition. In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials said the event was presently assessed as ‘Not credible for Coalition caused civcas.’ It also stated that “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.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Adult male killed
Adult female Mohammad ali Al Ragheb's wife killed
Age unknown female Mohammad ali Al Ragheb's daughter killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male Mohammad ali Al Ragheb's son
Adult female killed
male Also named Mohammed killed

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown not yet confirmed] killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 25
  • (3–7 children3–10 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Turkish Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Tweet saying more than 75 civilians killed in al Bab in alleged Turkish raids and reports that daesh is preventing civilians from leaving. 23rd December 2016. (via salam_alfraty2)
  • 20 civilians reported killed in alleged Turkish strikes on al Bab. 23rd December 2016. (via Kalmuqdad)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photos of children killed in alleged Turkish strikes on al bab. 23rd December 2016. (via Khaled_qahtan)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photos of children killed in alleged Turkish strikes on al bab. 23rd December 2016. (via Khaled_qahtan)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photos of children killed in alleged Turkish strikes on al bab. 23rd December 2016. (via Khaled_qahtan)

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.

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

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

For December 22nd-24th the Coalition publicly reported no strikes in Aleppo governorate.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

‘Friday 23 December – Typhoons bombed a terrorist position north of Tabaqah in Syria; in Iraq, Tornados hit a weapons cache north-east of Haditha, and a Reaper destroyed an artillery gun near Mosul…The next day [Dec 23rd], Typhoon FGR4s, armed with Paveway IV guided bombs, patrolled over Syria and successfully attacked a terrorist position which SDF fighters had encountered to the north of Tabaqah, near Lake Assad. In Iraq, Tornados used Paveway IVs to destroy a weapons stockpile some 50 miles north-east of Haditha, whilst a Reaper remotely piloted aircraft assisted the Iraqi operations in Mosul; its crew conducted a thorough check for civilians who might be at risk before a successful coalition air strike destroyed another weapons stockpile. The Reaper then delivered an attack using one of its own Hellfire missiles to destroy an artillery piece loaded on a trailer – as with the tank, the terrorists had attempted to hide the gun under a tarpaulin in thick woodland to the north-west of the city, but to no avail.’

Danish Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Danske øjne styrer fly sikkert gennem Irak og Syrien “Hvis man forestiller sig at skulle lande i en lufthavn eller flyve, hvor flyvelederne sidder med lukkede øjne, så har man situationen, hvis vores radar ikke snurrede rundt.” 23-12-2016 – kl. 11:00 Af radarbidraget og ACW I en amerikansk enhed arbejder et mindre radarbidrag fra Flyvevåbnet, hvor de holder styr på luftrummet over Irak og Syrien i kampen mod ISIL. Kingpin bliver kontrolcentralen kaldt, hvorfra det amerikanske flyvevåbens 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron sammen med både australiere, englændere og danskere er øjne, øre og guidende hænder for flytrafikken. 24 timer i døgnet holder de øje med luftrummet over Afghanistan, den Arabiske Gulf, Irak og Syrien. De danske udsendte fra Flyvevåbnets Air Control Wing koncentrerer sig om Irak og Syrien og går under kaldenavnet Gotham, hvor de blandt andet anvender den danske radar på Al Asad Airbase i Irak, som er en del af det samlede danske radarbidrag. Men de trækker også på en række andre radarer, radioer og overvågningsfly, så der konstant kan produceres et opdateret luftbillede, så flyene kan blive støttet i deres missioner. – Vi er et relativt lille bidrag på i alt cirka 30 mand med operatører og radarteknikere, men effekten af bidraget er enormt. Hvis man forestiller sig at skulle lande i en lufthavn eller flyve, hvor flyvelederne sidder med lukkede øjne, så har man situationen, hvis vores radar ikke snurrede rundt, siger chefen for radarbidraget, oberstløjtnant Kim Krogh.’

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 25
  • (3–7 children3–10 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Turkish Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS003

Incident date

August 28, 2016

Location

ﺍﻟﻌﻤﺎﺭﻧﺔ, Al Armana, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.741944, 38.009722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Fifteen to 24 civilians were reported killed in Turkish airstrikes on the town of Al Armana, as invading Turkish forces were said to have turned their attention to Kurdish YPG fighters. Al Hayat newspaper reported as many as twenty civilians were killed. 

However, Turkey denied it had killed any non-combatants in the action.

According to Reuters “Turkey said 25 Kurdish militants were killed in its air strikes and denied there were civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (13)

Hussam Jamal Othman
Age unknown killed
Jamal Othman
Child killed
Jamal Hisham Othman
Child killed
Jamal Othman
Age unknown killed
Munira Osman
Age unknown killed
Fattah Othman
Age unknown killed
Riza Othman
Age unknown killed
Hassan Mohamed Osman
Age unknown killed
Paper Mohammad Ali Osman
Age unknown killed
ire Ali Osman
Age unknown killed
Hussein Ali Osman
Age unknown killed
Osama Mohammed Ali Othman
Age unknown killed
Ali Osman
Age unknown killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Ali Mohamed Youssef
Age unknown killed
Jassem Mohammad Al-Faraj
Age unknown the village of Khirbet, a paramedics killed
Hussein Hammoud
Age unknown the village of Khirbet, a paramedics killed
Mahmoud Alberhaoa Ali
Age unknown the village of elders, a paramedics killed
Jassim Mustafa Jassim
Age unknown killed
Salim Maher Alasmaeil
Age unknown killed
Mustafa Mohammed Jassim
Age unknown killed
Abdul Rahim Mustafa
Age unknown killed
Subhia Hafez
Age unknown killed
Aqeel Abdul Rahim Mustafa
Child male killed
Mona Abdul Rahim Mustafa
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 24
  • (4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish raid on Al Armana, 28th August 2016. (via Free Manbej City)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish raid on Al Armana, 28th August 2016. (via Free Manbej City)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish raid on Al Armana, 28th August 2016. (via Free Manbej City)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish raid on Al Armana, 28th August 2016. (via Ajansa Hawra ANHA)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish raid on Al Armana, 28th August 2016. (via Haraw News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Armana (ﺍﻟﻌﻤﺎﺭﻧﺔ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.741944, 38.009722. 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
    15 – 24
  • (4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]