Conflicts

Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria
U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Codes

CS498 TS081

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.5179666
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S441a)

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.

Victims

Family members (3)

Adult male killed

Family members (10)

male killed
Child male killed
Child male killed

Family members (3)

male killed

Individuals

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

Key Information

Country
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
18–50
2 Children, 5 Women

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.

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Non credible / Unsubstantiated
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
Location accuracy
1 m
MGRS coordinate
37SDV5821365352
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
For February 16th-17th, the Coalition reported: “Near Al Bab, one strike destroyed a decoy tactical vehicle.”
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2017-09-29
Original Source
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.
Turkish Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Turkish Military
Turkish Military position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (3)