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

TS382A

Incident date

November 5, 2019

Location

كعن كورك, Kani Gawrk, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.431389, 36.764444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An elderly civilian was reported killed after allegedly being assaulted by Turkey-backed militants in Kanî Gewirkê village, on the road between the city of Afrin and Jindiris, on November 5th 2019, according to local sources.

kurdistan24.net reported that Suleyman Hamko, aged 73 was killed by militants who are believed to belong to the Suleyman Shah Brigade, led by Mohammad al-Jassim, who is also known as Abu Amsha. The source also reported that this wasn’t the first time Suleyman was attacked, but he had been attacked twice before in Aug 2019 probably because of his political views against Turkey and the FSA.

Other sources said that Turkey-backed militants came to the victim’s house to “pillage his money”.

According to Afrin Centre “Mr. Hamko resisted them so they beat him, causing him to have internal brain haemorrhage”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • 73 years old Suleyman Hamko was reported killed by Turkey-backed militants in Afrin on November 5th, 2019 (via Kurdistan24).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kani Gawrk (كعن كورك), for which the coordinates are: 36.431389, 36.764444. 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

Free Syrian Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Free Syrian Army
  • Free Syrian Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS402

Incident date

December 20, 2019

Location

صيدا, Saida, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.402778, 38.861944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported injured in an alleged Turkish forces drone or artillery attack on Saida village in Ain Issa, Raqqa on December 20th, 2019 according to local sources.

The three civilians are said to be in serious conditions.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports on the incident mention strikes in the village of Saida (صيدا) north of Ayn Issa (عين عيسى) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.402778, 38.861944. 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, Airstrike and/or Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS432

Incident date

April 10, 2020

Location

عقيبة, Aqiba, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.437500, 36.968333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported renewed rocket shelling by Turkish forces and the factions loyal to it on areas under the control of the Kurdish and regime forces in the northern countryside of Aleppo on April 10th, 2020.

The intense shelling targeted the villages of Aqeeba, Soghankeh, Ziyara, Dergemal, Beina and other areas located in the Shirawa district northwest of Aleppo and led to the injury of a civilian in the village of Aqiba, in addition to the killing of a member of the regime forces and the injury of others.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1–2

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Aqiba (عقيبة) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.437500, 36.968333. 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected targets
    Assad regime, YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1–2

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI050

Incident date

August 30, 2020

Location

زاب, Zab area, Duhok, Iraq

Geolocation

37.255337, 43.569031 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Zab area, on August 30th, 2020. While some sources reported that the victim, Hiam Noah Haji, was a political leader of the Kurdish Labour Party, other sources wrote she was the leader of a PKK militia.

Khabour reported that “Kurdistan Labour Party leader Hiam Noah Haji from the village of Pestasos in Maliki countryside was killed due to a Turkish airstrike in Zab area in northern Iraq.”

@VOSyria_ and @suriye_u_a_dr, however, reported that Haji was the leader of a PKK militia.

All sources blamed Turkey for the airstrike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hiam Noah Haji هيام نوح حجي
Adult female leader with the Kurdistan Labour Party killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 women)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: “An air strike by Turkish warplanes on the Zab region in northern Iraq kills Hiyam Noah Hajji, the leader of the PKK militia, from the village of Pestasos in the countryside of Hasaka” (via @VOSyria_).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Zab (زاب) region, in northern Iraq (العراق). Research shows the existence of a Great Zab River (نهر الزاب العظيم) that flows through Turkey, and the districts of Duhok (دهۆک) and Nineveh (نينوى). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the northernmost post of the river within the boundaries of Iraq are: 37.255337, 43.569031.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 women)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS468

Incident date

April 19, 2021

Location

صيدا, Sayda, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

32.6290749, 36.2233829 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three civilians were injured in alleged Turkish artillery shelling on the village of Saida in Ain Issa on April 29, 2021.

According to Almasirah, “a number of civilians were injured as a result of the Turkish occupation forces and their mercenaries… with artillery shells on the perimeter of the town of Ain Issa.” The artillery shells struck “the population centers in the village of Saida and the vicinity of Ain Issa town and the roads leading to it,” resulting in injuries and damage to homes and property.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “the bombardment targeted a petrol station on the western outskirts of Ain Issa, which injured three people and burned down an oil truck.” Turkish forces had also reportedly shelled similar areas the day before, April 18th, but no casualties were claimed.

Various other sources also reported that alleged Turkish shelling occurred in residential areas and caused injuries and damage to property, but did not identify how many civilians were injured. All of the sources attributed the shelling to Turkish forces or pro-Turkish factions.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: a number of civilians were injured as a result of the Turkish occupation forces and their mercenaries from the takfiri groups with artillery shells on the perimeter of the town of Ain Issa. (Image posted by Almasirah)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a petrol station in the village of Sayda  (صيدا). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Akeerbat are: 32.6290749, 36.2233829.

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
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI064a

Incident date

July 8, 2021

Location

قرية هرور, Hirrur, Dohuk, Iraq

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured in an alleged Turkish artillery strike on the village of Hirrur, Dohuk Province on July 8 th, 2021 according to one source.

Christian Peacemaker Teams said the civilian was injured by shrapnel when a Turkish military base fired shells into farmlands close to the village.

No further information could be found. The local time of the incident is unknown.

 

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military