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

TS064

Incident date

January 27, 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

Eight people were reportedly injured as a result of an alleged Turkish artillery shelling on Al Bab.

Al Bab News and the ISIS-affiliated outlet Al A’amaq said that most of the wounded were women and children.

There are currently no further details available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (2) [ 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
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS333 TS005a

Incident date

October 8, 2016

Location

دويبق, Dabiq, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5643925, 37.2749805 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twelve to 14 civilians, including up to seven children and five women, were killed in air raids on the village of Dabiq in Aleppo governorate, according to local reports. It was alleged that both the Coalition and Turkey were responsible.

The Syrian Network reported “at least 8 civilians died in International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Al Dabiq village in Aleppo governorate.” Halab Today TV, citing activists, reported that 12 civilians had been killed and others injured “following the targeting by international coalition planes.”

Sky News Arabia also reported a figure of “at least” 10 civilians, which it said were from “the same family,” and it blamed the bombardment on the international coalition – as did Hara FM which added that 23 people were injured. It described raids in residential areas that destroyed five houses, which killed “eight civilians from one family, most of them children and two from a second family” and said eight people had been transferred to Al Bab due to injuries, most of them critical.

However, the Syrian Observatory assigned blame to Turkey and put the death toll at 9 members from the same family. It said the victims were “an elderly man, 3 citizen women and 5 children” and added that others were injured and the death toll was expected to rise as some were in a “critical situation.”

In their May 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mahmoud Fara
Age unknown male killed
Mahmoud Fara's wife
Age unknown female killed

Family members (6)

Sheikho Imam's wife
Age unknown female killed
Sheikho Imam's wife
Age unknown female killed
Sheikho Imam' child 1
Child killed
Sheikho Imam' child 2
Child killed
Sheikho Imam' child 3
Child killed
Sheikho Imam' child 4
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 14
  • (4–7 children4–5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Dabiq (دويبق), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.5643925, 37.2749805. 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.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA456479
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020
  • Oct. 8, 2016, in Dabiq, Syria via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3068/CS333 37SCA456479

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For October 7th-8th 2016 the Coalition reported strikes in Aleppo governorate: “Near Mar’a, one strike damaged an ISIL VBIED facility. Near Washiyah, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL-held building and a command and control node.”

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 14
  • (4–7 children4–5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23
  • 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

TS482

Incident date

December 30, 2021

Location

زركان, Zarkan, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.846934, 40.331261 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

36.776363, 40.130898 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and five civilians, including up to two women and three children, were killed and up to 12 others, including women and children, were injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Zarkan ( Abu Rassein) on December 30, 2021.

According to the Hawar News Agency, three civilians, Jamala Musa Al-Nahar, Jawaher Musa Al-Nahar, and the two-year-old child Allam Ali Al-Issa, were killed and five others were injured in a Turkish bombing of Zarkan. Turkey Now put the number of injured at four.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Jamala and Jawaher were sisters and Allam was the two year old child of Jawaher. North Press Agency identified Jamala as being an employee in the municipality of Al-Asadiya village. All were killed in artillery and missile shelling and in addition to the injury of five civilians, two members of the Syrian Democratic Forces were injured. The shelling allegedly struck a mosque in the town of Zarkan as well.

RT identified the three people killed as being “a man, a woman and a child”, adding that the strikes resulted in “the collapse of part of the Great Mosque in the town, and damage to some houses and public and private properties”. A video posted by RT also shows the moment the strikes hit the mosque.

A Facebook post from “News of the eastern region and the island” (أخبار المنطقة الشرقية والجزيرة) added the names of two others killed as: Muhammad Issa Omar’s child and baby Aladdin Nasser, in addition to the name of a civilian injured: Muhammed Khalaf.

Kurdistan24 gave a similar death toll on the low end of reports, a woman and a child killed, but added that 12 others, including women and children, were injured. Following the strikes, there was a large displacement of citizens fleeing the area on foot or on motorbikes because they feared being targeted if they used cars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Jawaher Musa Al-Nahar جواهر موسى النهار
female killed
Jamala Musa Al-Nahar جمالة موسى النهار
female killed
Allam Ali Al-Issa علام علي العيسى
2 years old killed

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Issa Omar's child
Child killed
Baby Aladdin Nasser
Child killed
Muhammed Khalaf
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1–3 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • 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 injured
    2

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • One of the victims of alleged Turkish strikes on Zarkan December 30, 2021. (Image posted by News of the eastern region and the island)
  • Damage from alleged Turkish strikes on Zarkan December 30, 2021. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the Great Mosque (الجامع الكبير) in the town of Zarkan (زركان), and on the village of Al Asadiya (الاسدية). The generic coordinates for the mosque are: 36.846934, 40.331261. The generic coordinates for Al Asadiya are: 36.776363, 40.130898. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the locations further.

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Great Mosque \n الجامع الكبير","label-type":"black-white"},"geometry":{"type":"Point","coordinates":[40.331261,36.846934]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Al Asadiya \n الاسدية","label-type":"black-white"},"geometry":{"type":"Point","coordinates":[40.130898,36.776363]}}]}

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 – 5
  • (1–3 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • 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 injured
    2

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS517

Incident date

June 7, 2022

Location

ابين, Abin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.465074, 36.995558 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a woman, was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Abin on June 7, 2022.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a woman who was displaced from Afrin was injured when Turkish forces fired over 15 heavy artillery shells at Abin village, in addition to the damage of several civilians’ houses.

A local source told North-Press, “The injured woman, Naderat Zakaria (27 years), was hit by shrapnel in her forearms, in addition to material damage to the house of Abdel Salam Mustafa and Ahmed Abdo, who are residents of the village.” Afrin Post added that she was “slightly injured” and that the shell had fallen on her home.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkish forces, and Afrin Post specified that the shelling was carried out by Turkish forces stationed in the villages of Gilbery and Merimin in the Shirawa district.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

27 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Electromagnetic weapons
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Abin (ابين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.465074, 36.995558. 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Electromagnetic weapons
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS542

Incident date

August 9, 2022

Location

السلماسة, Al Salmsaa, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.640463, 40.292959 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed on August 9th 2022 in the village of Al-Salmsaa, southwest of Tal Tamr district in Syria, as a result of alleged Turkish military artillery.

The incident was reported to have taken place at approximately 3:30am in the morning, which allegedly resulted in the death of Ibrahim Mohammad Hashi, aged 55. He was reportedly displaced from the village of Al-Sebatiya, northwest of Tal Tamr district.

Hashi was severely injured in this attack and was taken to Hasaka Hospital where he was confirmed dead.

The incident occured at 03:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Muhammad Hashi
55 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Salmsaa (السلماسة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.640463, 40.292959. 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 infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

TS569

Incident date

November 21, 2022

Location

الحمره, Al-Hamra neighborhood in the center of Tal Tamr district, Tal Tamr, Syria

Airwars assessment

One young man, Abd al-Rahman Rashid Hassan, aged 17, was injured in a reported Turkish bombardment from a drone which hit the neighbourhood of Al-Hamra, in the centre of Tal Tamr district, Syria, on November 21st 2022.

ANHA and other local sources reported that the Turkish drone targeted a car or a military vehicle which was near a Russian forces base.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahman Rashid Hassan
17 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
    1
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

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
    1
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS609

Incident date

July 5, 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

On the 5th July 2023, two ambulance crew members were reportedly injured by a Turkish artillery strike in southern Kobani, located in the North of Syria.

30 year-old Sozdar Othman and 25 year-old Muslim Nabi Oso were injured whilst traveling to the area of Newroz Square, which was hit by mortar shells, to evacuate possible casualties. The North Press agency reported that both individuals were taken to hospitals in the city of Kobani for medical treatment after sustaining ‘shrapnel wounds in their legs as a result of the Turkish shelling’. At the time of reporting, both men were in stable condition and were still receiving treatment at the hospital.

This version of events was reported by several news outlets, including the ANHA, Alfurat Human Rights and ANF. All of these reports conform with the narrative provided by the North Press Agency.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sozdar Othman, 30, and Muslim Nabi Usso, 25, both members of the medical staff were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Kobani on July 5, 2023. (Image posted by the North Press Agency)
  • Alleged Turkish shelling of Kobani on July 5, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Alleged Turkish shelling of Kobani on July 5, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Alleged Turkish shelling of Kobani on July 5, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • The bombing resulted in the injury of two civilians as a result of the Turkish army targeting the vicinity of the city of Kobani, and the injured were transferred Suzdar Mustafa Othman, 30 years old, and Muslim Nabi Oso, 25 years old, to the hospitals of Kobani city to receive treatment

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS636

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Location

بلدة صرين, village of Qafsef, southwest of Sarin, Sarin, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilian men were killed and two others were injured in the village of Qafsef located southwest of Sarin at 10:45 AM on Friday, October 5, 2023, by an alleged drone strike by Turkish forces.

Hawar News initially reported one civilian dead and two wounded, while other sources — including Kobane FM — reported three killed. According to Kobane FM, the three men named Abdul Rahim Naasan, Ismail Khalil, and Abdul Rahim Haji were killed by the strike which took place at 10:45 a.m. as per Hawar News.

According to Kobane FM Facebook account, their bodies were transported for the burial in the Martyrs’ Shrine in Sarrin district. A procession of “thousands” gathered to mourn those lost, according to a post by the Euphrates Defense Office on Facebook. Images shared by Kobane FM showed crowds carrying the coffins of the victims, each casket adorned with the photographs of the victims.

Where sources identified a belligerent, all source identified the Turkish military as responsible for this strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahim Naasan عبد الرحمن نعسان
Age unknown male killed
Ismail Khalil اسماعيل خليل
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Rahim Hajji عبدالرحمن حجي
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (31) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook

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)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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

Sources (4) [ collapse]