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

CS487 TS078

Incident date

February 12, 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

A Turkish or Coalition airstrike on al Bab killed up to 15 civilians, according to multiple reports.

The Syrian Network blamed the US-led alliance, reporting that “8 civilians, including a child and 2 women, died in International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Al Bab city.” Syrian News Desk, Manbij Direct and Al Bab 24 all blamed Turkey.

However Al Bab 24 later reported that “The family of Mohammad Dib Bakkour are well and they are outside the city. We apologise for publishing news of their killing.”

Regardless of this correction, reports from the Violations Documentation Center in Syria and Halab Today Tv identified Turkey as the culprit.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Raheem Bakour
Adult male killed
Mohammad Deeb Bakour
Adult male killed
Mohammad Deeb Bakour's wife
Adult female killed
Kifae Najjar
Adult male killed
Alia Bakour
Adult female killed
Mahmoud Akkam
Adult male killed
Mazen Akkam
Adult male killed
Ahmad Bathish
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 12
  • (1 child2 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Video, published on March 10th, listing those killed in a previous alleged Turkish shelling on Al Bab: 'Abd al Rahim Bakkour, Mohamamd Dib Bakkour and his wife, Kafaa Najjar, Aliya Bakkour, Mahmoud A’kkam, Mazen A’kkam.'
  • Translation: 15 martyrs in Al-Bab and others wounded due to Turkish warplanes shelling. Abd al Qader Waki the son of Yusuf and his entire family Mazen Akkam -Mahmoud Akkam Mohammad Adib Bakkour and his family Ahmad Hashem and his mother Ibrahim ahmad Juma’a ( two days ago due to artillery shelling) Hussein Jabuli Ahmad Bathish.
  • Ahmad Bathish (via Al-Bab 24)

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.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 11th-12th 2017 the Coalition reported: “Near Al Bab, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a heavy machine gun.”

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 12
  • (1 child2 women6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS229

Incident date

February 26, 2018

Location

يلنقوز, Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians including children died and a minimum of three other civilians were wounded in an alleged Turkish air strike on Yilanguz village, according to local media. The majority of sources said that a family of five died. One source (Evlin.Hassan) reported that “dozens were killed and wounded”.

IC Arrin Resistance tweeted a video in which the voiceover in Kurdish says: “the Turkish army committed another massacre in the town Jindiresse in Afrin, yesterday night at 3-4 a.m. Turkish warplanes bombed family houses, killing five civilians and wounding three more severely.”

In a second video, “a neighbour of the civilian victims states: ‘The Turkish warplanes only target civilians. There are no military forces here. The airstrikes have to be stopped!’”

ANHA and Rumaf also put the death toll at five, with Rumaf tweeting graphic images of the bodies of child victims.

Most sources put the death toll at five, though Yikiti Media said that two had died.

Rojava tweeted a video depicting “baby Clothes, children’s boots laying in the ruins and dust of Yelangoz village after Turkeys airstrikes and massacre on the village and its people today”.

According to the SDF press office, “Turkish invasion aircraft attacked the village of Yilanguz and targeted civilian houses, which carried out a massacre of civilians and children. The Kurdish Red Crescent teams are recovering the bodies from the rubble as of the time of preparing this report.”

Some other sources said that Turkey conducted artillery strikes on the village.

According to Evlin.Hassan, the death toll may have been even higher: it reported that there were “dozens of civilians killed and wounded.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 12
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–12
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of civilian casualties in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via SDF)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Evlin.Hassan)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Evlin.Hassan)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Evlin.Hassan)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian casualty in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Evlin.Hassan)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian casualty in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Evlin.Hassan)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage showing the remains of civilian casualties, killed in alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Rojava)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage showing the remains of civilian casualties, killed in alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Rojava)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Anha)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Anha)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin (يلنقوز), 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
    2 – 12
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–12
  • 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]

Incident Code

CS447 TS053

Incident date

January 17, 2017

Location

تادف, Tadif, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.34857, 37.531501 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to thirteen civilians reportedly died in airstrikes at Tadef near al Bab, as heavy clashes continued with ISIL for control of the strategic city.

Step News, Al Bab News, Syria News Desk and the Syrian Observatory blamed Turkey for the attack, while LCCSY said Russia was responsible. The Syrian Network instead said that “8 civilians, including a girl and a woman, died in International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Tadef city.”

However, Abdulkarim Laila (who put the death count at seven) blamed Russia – as did LCCSY.

Syria News Desk reported an eyewitness in the town as saying that “Turkish aircraft targeted homes in the main market area of the city center, explaining that most of the injured are children and the elderly, confirming the presence of 11 in serious condition. There are also three unrecognisable bodies. The source added that the raids are fully resulted in the destruction of two residential buildings and damaged a number of nearby building.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Ibrahim Hassan al Zein
male killed
Ahmad Juma’a al Zein
male killed
Mohammad Khalilo
male killed
Yahiya Ahmad Khalilo
male killed
the wife of Mahmoud Eido Al Khalaf
female killed
daughter of Mahmoud Eido Al Khalaf: Abd al Karim Al Sheikh Saleh
female killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Rahmo al Dalati
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad Wahab al Raziya
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 13
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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, Unknown

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tadif (تادف), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.34857, 37.531501. 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
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 16th-17th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Al Bab, two strikes destroyed a tactical vehicle and an excavator.“
For January 17th-18th it stated: “Near Al Bab, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit.“

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 13
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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, Unknown

Incident Code

TS247

Incident date

March 5, 2018

Location

جنديرس,عفرين , Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians including two or three children and five women died and up to 32 more were injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes in Jindires, Syria, local media said. However, it is possible that reports are referring to several events in Jindires, and may include T131-T133, listed above. Moreover, several sources published images which appeared to pertain to these other incidents, suggesting that the figures provided were a summary of events during the entire day of March 5th.

The source Cahida Dersim referred to a Turkish shelling of the village of Miska Jorin, and went on to say that 13 civilians including three children had died in Jindires on march 5th.

Other reports also referred to “Jindires”, rather than Miska Jorin or any other location specifically.

IC Afrin resistance, for example, reported that “Turkish warplanes bombed the center of Jindires. Civilians were injured and killed. There are still people under the ruins. They can’t be freed because the attacks are still ongoing”.

However, there was some confusion in tweets by IC Afrin Resistance: the first said that 13 civilians were wounded in Jindires, while the second said that 13 (including three children) were killed.

Hawar News published a video (below) depicting the shelling. It reported that “preliminary reports said that there were martyrs and wounded among civilians, but because of the intensive shelling we did not get the number of martyrs and wounded.”

One victim killed in Jindires was named by Arin Chikhmous as Mohammed Alo, 20 years.

According to ANHA, “in the morning hours, the Turkish occupation army bombed the center of Janders city with more than 20 booby-trapped barrels, directly targeting unarmed civilians in the district center causing the martyrdom of 13 civilians, including 3 children and 5 women, and injuring more than 14 civilians.”

Rok Online put the death toll higher. It said: “The Turkish forces carried out a massacre in the area of Jendiris on Monday [March 5th] after launching violent raids on the region, killing 15 people and wounding about 8 others, including children and women, in addition to the destruction of buildings and shops.”

SDF military media on Facebook reported that “after the failure of the Turkish occupation army to break into the region of Jendrissa, Turkish warplanes carried out crazy raids on the civilian neighborhoods, causing four massacres in one day.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Alo
20 years old male unclear whether he died i Jindires, Afrin or Village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (2–3 children5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–32
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath in the city of Jonderes, Afrina, after reportedly being hit by Turkish strikes on 5 March, 2018 (via Evlyn hassan)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrikes on Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Afrin Resistance)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrikes on Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Cahida Dersim)
  • Just moments after the alleged Turkish airstrikes on Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Hawar news)
  • A wounded civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrikes on Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Yikiti)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jindires, Afrin (جنديرس,عفرين ), 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
    5 – 13
  • (2–3 children5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–32
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS279

Incident date

March 17, 2018

Location

محمودية, Mahmoudiya neighbourhood, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.518056, 36.845278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 11 and 13 civilians died in an alleged Turkish airstrike on a convoy of cars in the Mahmoudiya neighbourhood of Afrin, according to local media.

IC Afrin reported that two vehicles were hit with dozens of people on the road out of Afrin to Tirinde village. The people were attempting to flee the area towards Shehba Canton.

The source went on to add: In the Mahmoudiye neighbourhood of Afrin city a howitzer of the Turkish army hit a tractor which was full of civilians. The numbers of killed civilians are at least 13. Their bodies were completely burned. Only one child survived injured.

ANF said that a tractor and another vehicle were struck, reporting that dozens of civilians including children were killed.

Massoud Mohammed put the death toll slightly lower, at 11 civilians.

Afrin now on Facebook identified a woman and her husband and indicated that their son disappeared. Also, another victim was identified.

The source Efrin Dile Kurdistane also reported the death of Shahnaz Rasho, though it reported her killed on March 16th, while all other sources point to this event in the Mahmoudiya neighbourhood occurring on March 17th. Consequently, there is the possibility that she is one of the 47 killed (the general figure was given by Hawar news) on March 16th.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Shahnaz Rasho
Adult female via Afrin now on Facebook killed
Hozan Aliko
Adult male via Afrin now on Facebook killed

The victims were named as:

Reber Aliko
Child male via Afrin now on Facebook killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 13
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • An image reveals the destruction that followed a strike targeted a convoy of cars in the Mahmoudiya neighbourhood of Afrin (source: Hawar news)
  • A picture of Reber Aliko, killed in an alleged Turkish strike on in the Mahmoudiya neighbourhood of Afrin (source: Afrin now)
  • A picture of Shahnaz Rasho, killed with her husband in an alleged Turkish strike on in the Mahmoudiya neighbourhood of Afrin (source: Afrin now)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 13
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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

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
Official source

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

TS028

Incident date

December 21, 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 seven and 15 civilians, most of them apparently from one family, were reported killed in a Turkish bombardment of Al Bab, Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “the city is witnessing massive bombardment by the Turkish forces leading to the death of seven, the majority of them from one family, the number of the dead is likely to rise.”

The ISIS media propaganda outlet Al A’amaq published a similar report but said all the victims were from one family.

LCCSY and Al Bab News reported that 15 people were killed. Al Bab News added they were mostly from the Al Nako family and four of them children. In addition, one woman from the Al Masri family was reported dead.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Member of the Al Masri family
Adult female killed

Family members (4)

Member of the Al Nako family
Child killed
Member of the Al Nako family
Child killed
Member of the Al Nako family
Child killed
Member of the Al Nako family
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 15
  • (0–4 children0–1 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (7) [ 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
    7 – 15
  • (0–4 children0–1 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS416 TS024

Incident date

December 16, 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 eleven and 15 civilians were reported killed in a Turkish (or less likely Coalition) action at al Bab.

According to LCCSY eleven civilians died, “most of them killed in Coalition raids on al Bab.”However, the source had consistently denied civilian harm from Turkish actions during the al-Bab campaign.

Al Bab News reported “more than 15 dead most of them women and children and dozens injured as a result of the bombardment on al Bab yesterday. There are families still under the rubble and the rescue operations are underway.”

However ISIS’s media wing reported “intense raids with more than 15 Turkish air raids and 180 shells falling on al Bab in the Aleppo countryside since dawn today.” And the Syrian Observatory reported that “Turkish warplanes bombed areas on the outskirts of al-Bab city which is under the control of the “Islamic State” northeast of Aleppo province, amid clashes in several places in the area between members of the organisation against the factions of Euphrates Shield supported by Turkish forces, which caused casualties.”

The Syrian Network suggested Free Syrian Army (FSA) or Turkish artillery may also have been responsible: “Three civilians from the same family including a child died in Der’ Al Furat forces, supported by Turkish forces, artillery fired shells on Al Bab city in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs, December 16, 2016.”

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.’

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 15
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Khaled Shaban reports more than 150 shells fired and 15 air raids targeting al Bab allegedly by Turkish forces and allied militias since dawn. 16th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)
  • Jahra online reports Turkish army declarations that they had destroyed 60 Daesh targets near al Bab amid accusations of killing civilians. 16th December 2016. (via Jahra)

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
Official source

For December 15th-17th 2016 the Coalition has publicly reported no strikes in the vicinity.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For December 14th to 20th, France reports 10 strikes: 8 in Iraq – 7 of which were in Mosul – and 2 in Syria. They reported that 16 targets were destroyed.

#Chammal : 10 frappes contre Daech en Irak et en Syrie cette semaine, 16 objectifs détruits.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 15
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]