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

TS310

Incident date

October 11, 2019

Location

قامشلي, Qamishli, Al Hasaka, Syria

Geolocation

37.036389, 41.239444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and six others were injured in alleged Turkish shelling on the largest bakery of the city of Qamishli, as reported by local sources.

@y_ozgurpolitika reported that the bakery is located in a park in the city center. According to Hawar News Agency, the automatic bakery provides bread to half of the civilian population of the city.

According to Hawar News Agency and the Coordination & Military Ops Center of the SDF, 2 civilians died and 6 people were wounded.

North Press Agency Syria reported on Twitter that the oven worker Hassan Suleiman Al Ali was killed and two police men were injured. They also wrote that civilian Habib Bashar Hebbo was injured while bringing bread to his family and had to get his leg amputated.

 

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Suleiman Al Ali
Child male oven worker in the bakery killed
Habib Bashar Hebbo
Adult male leg was amputated injured
Hassan Nasser Al Aswad
Adult male injured
Munir Khader Al Alawi
Adult male injured
Fadel Jadaan Al Tattaq
Adult male injured
Mihemed Elî Abdullah
Adult male injured
Hussien Sulieman Ibrahim
60 years old male killed
Hasan Sulieman Alali
50 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • 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]

  • Footage of alleged Turkish shelling on the city center of Qamishli on October 11, 2019 (via @TurceAnha).
  • Photo of one of the victims of alleged Turkish shelling on the city center of Qamishli being carried away by medical staff (via @HiwaDilan_71).
  • 9th to 13th of october docx

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Qamishli (قامشلي), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.036389, 41.239444. 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
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • 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

TS343

Incident date

October 15, 2019

Location

ابو سرة, Abu Surra, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.481553, 38.720798 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died and another was wounded in an alleged Turkish attack on a car carrying civilians, multiple sources reported.

@thefinalwar tweeted” “The Turkish state and its gangs attacked a vehicle belonging to civilians in the village of Abu Sirê to the west of Eyn Isa. Two civilians were martyred and one civilian was injured in the attack.”

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
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Unknown
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Abu Surra (ابو سرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.481553, 38.720798. 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
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Unknown
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS350C

Incident date

October 16, 2019

Location

رأس العين, Ras Al Ain, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.848579, 40.073576 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were reported injured after being shot on October 16th, 2019 according to local sources.

Other sources also reported “a violent attack by Turkish-backed armed factions on top of  Ras Al Ain”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Khalaf
30 years old male injured
Eyad ahmad
19 years old male injured
Hozan Ahmad
19 years old male injured
Ali Dawood
22 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ras Al Ain (رأس العين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.848579, 40.073576. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS379

Incident date

November 2, 2019

Location

عين الهوى, Aniq Al Hawa, Al Hasaka, Syria

Geolocation

36.778612, 40.313230 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were reportedly executed, allegedly by Turkey-backed militants in Aniq Al Hawa village in Ras Al Ayn, Syria, on November 2nd, 2019 according to local sources.

The sources reported that Turkey-backed militants disguised in Syrian regime forces clothing executed the four civilians.

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
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Aniq Al Hawa (عين الهوى), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.778612, 40.313230. 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
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS400

Incident date

December 9, 2019

Location

تل الورد غربي, Tal Al Ward, Hasaka, Syria

Geolocation

36.797222, 40.338611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, one civilian was reported killed when Turkish forces or Turkey-backed forces launched an artillery attack on Tal Al Ward in Tal Tamr town of Hasakah in Syria, on December 9th, 2019.

No further details are available at the moment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Liveaumap Middle East marking the location of the strike on Tal Al Ward (via @lummideast).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention bombing in the village of Tal Al Ward (تل الورد غربي) for which the coordinates are 36.797222, 40.338611 and the village of Al Rubaiat (ربيعات غربي ) for which the coordinates are: 36.820000, 40.333333. 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
    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
  • Suspected target
    Free Syrian Army

Sources (15) [ 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

TS464

Incident date

January 23, 2021

Location

تل رفعت, Tal Rifa'at, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.472576, 37.096272 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians including a mother and her two children were reported killed, and eleven others injured as a result of a alleged Turkish shelling, or pro-Turkey militants on Tal Rifat town in Aleppo’s northern countryside, Syria on January 23rd, 2021.

The shelling also reportedly caused material damage to the locals houses, the private and public properties and the infrastructure.

Ridaw said “Five-year-old Yasser Sakran and twelve-year-old Ebid al-Mohsen Sakran were both killed. The third person who died, Nazliye Mohammed Mustafa, was originally from Afrin, according to Hawar News Agency, an outlet affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).” ANHA reported that the woman is the mother of the two children.

The initial reports spoke about three victims, but then a forth civilian, Saad al-Din al-Qais aged 31, died of his injuries raising death toll.

North Press Agency (NPA) said that the injured civilians were transferred to Afrin Hospital, some of them in critical condition. However, the Rojava Information Centre reported 11 wounded civilians as a result of the attack.

Thousands of IDPs from Tal Rafa’at, Afrin and Alshahba joined the funeral of the victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Majid Yasser Sikran ماجد ياسر سكران
5 years old male killed
Abdelmuhsen Sikran عبد المحسن سكران
12 years old male killed
Nazliye Mihemed Mustafa نازلية محمد مصطفى
55 years old female Originally from Afrin killed
Muhammad Yasser Sakran محمد سكران
Age unknown male From Tal Rifaat injured
Ahmed Hassan [Abdulhasan] Sakran أحمد عبد الحسن سكران
33 years old male From Tal Rifaat injured

The victims were named as:

Saad al-Din al-Qais سعد الدين القيس
31 years old male Died in the hospital of his injuries. A source added Sakran to his surname so he could be part of the family that lost other three members in the same day. killed
Muhammad Nori Youssef محمد نوري يوسف
35 years old male From Bulbul injured
Alia Haidar Habash عليا حيدر حبش
19 years old female injured
Sadiq Muhammad Abdo صادق محمد عبدو
15 years old male From Afrin injured
Khalid Dudakh خالد دودخ
33 years old male From Shara town injured
Mazloum Ibrahim Dado مظلوم إبراهيم دادو
31 years old male From Shiye town injured
Khalid Muhammad al-Ali خالد محمد العلي
46 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–11
  • 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
    YPG/SDF

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (24) [ collapse]

  • Funeral of four or five civilians killed by alleged Turkey shelling on Tal Rifa'at on January 23rd, 2021 (via @BehnamZarei21)
  • Funeral of four or five civilians killed by alleged Turkey shelling on Tal Rifa'at on January 23rd, 2021 (via @BehnamZarei21)
  • Funeral of four or five civilians killed by alleged Turkey shelling on Tal Rifa'at on January 23rd, 2021 (via @BehnamZarei21)
  • Funeral of four or five civilians killed by alleged Turkey shelling on Tal Rifa'at on January 23rd, 2021 (via @BehnamZarei21)
  • Funeral of four or five civilians killed by alleged Turkey shelling on Tal Rifa'at on January 23rd, 2021 (via NPA)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the mother and two children killed in alleged Turkish shelling on Tal Rifa'at on January 23rd, 2021. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the mother and two children killed in alleged Turkish shelling on Tal Rifa'at on January 23rd, 2021. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)
  • Images of the funeral of four or five civilians killed by Turkish shelling in Tal Rifa'at on Jan 23rd, attended by thousands of IDPs. (via SOHR)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tal Rifa’at (تل رفعت), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.472576, 37.096272. 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
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–11
  • 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
    YPG/SDF

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS492

Incident date

February 15, 2022

Location

تل رفعت, Tal Rifaat, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.472576, 37.096272 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians, including up to four children and a woman, were injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on February 15, 2022.

Hawar News reported that five civilians, including women and children, were injured when Turkish forces bombed Tal Rifaat. North Press Agency put the total number of injuries at four and identified all for of those injured as children, including images of the children being treated for their injuries.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Turkish artillery struck near the stadium in Tal Rifaat while children were inside the stadium, which resulted in the injury of four children. The source added that the shelling coincided with the entry of several Russian armored vehicles into the city.

FOX Press specified that the strikes occurred in the center of the city, causing material damage to property, and that the wounded were taken to Tal Rifaat Hospital for treatment. A local source also provided FOX Press the names of the wounded: Newroz Ali Muhammad, Ibrahim Abdo Muhammad, Ali Abdo Muhammad and four-year-old Siban Mustafa Nabi Bakr.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Newroz Ali Muhammad نيروز علي محمد
Child injured
Ibrahim Abdo Muhammad إبراهيم عبدو محمد
Child injured
Ali Abdo Muhammad علي عبدو محمد
Child injured
Siban Mustafa Nabi Bakr سيبان مصطفى نبي بكر
4 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Children injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on February 15, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Children injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on February 15, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Children injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on February 15, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on February 15, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Impact caused by alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on February 15, 2022. (Image posted by Moaaz_alkamil via Facebook)
  • Impact caused by alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on February 15, 2022. (Image posted by Moaaz_alkamil via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tal Rifaat (تل رفعت), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.472576, 37.096272. 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]