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

CS335 TS005b

Incident date

October 11, 2016

Location

تل بطال, Tall Btal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.50018, 37.43927 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 3 and 4 displaced people were reported killed in camps near Tal Btal, a village south of Ra’i in the Aleppo countryside. It was unclear whether Turkey or the Coalition was responsible.

Ramaf reported that an attack hit a camp, claiming “the lives of three martyrs and [left] more than fifteen wounded as a result of being targeted by Turkish artillery. Ramaf named the three victims.

The ISIS-controlled propaganda unit al Al A’maq Agency reported that four civilians were killed, including a girl “when two tents were targeted with an American raid.”

Only two sources reported on this incident. There are no other known details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Ma’rouf
Age unknown male killed
Mahmoud Sheikh Nouri
Age unknown male killed
Mohammad Adel
Age unknown male killed
A female child
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tall Btal (تل بطال), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.50018, 37.43927. 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 Tal Btal, 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

For October 10th-11th the Coalition reported that “Near Manbij, three strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions and two vehicles.” For October 11th-12th, the Coalition reported “Near Manbij, one strike suppressed an ISIL tactical unit” and that “Near Mar’a, four strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions and a vehicle.”

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS056

Incident date

January 20, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and four civilians died and up to 13 more were wounded in alleged Turkish artillery and air strikes on Al Bab, Syria, local media reported.

According to Al Bab News, there were “three dead and 11 injured in a continuous Turkish aerial and artillery bombardment of Al Bab”.

Syria News Desk gave more detail on the event. It said: “Four civilians were killed and 13 others injured this afternoon [Jan 20th] by Turkish artillery and air raids targeting residential areas in the city of Bab under the control of the Islamic State Organization in the eastern countryside of Aleppo.

The source who, refused to reveal his identity, told the Syria News Desk that the Turkish warplanes launched more than 15 raids on the sites of the organization around the city, including three raids, residential sites near the roundabout Manshiyet central Bab, killing four Civilians and wounding four others.

Nine civilians, five of them from a single family, were injured when three artillery shells fired by the Turkish army targeted residential buildings near the industrial zone to the southeast of Bab.

The source added that the artillery and aerial bombardment resulted in the destruction of two residential buildings in full, and a large destruction of four other houses, in addition to the burning of two cars and damage to a number of shops and other property.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–13
  • 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 city of Al Bab city ( 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
    3 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–13
  • 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

TI021

Incident date

January 22, 2019

Location

رشاوة , Rashawa, Duhok, Iraq

Geolocation

36.865292, 42.991828 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four men were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on the area of Deraluk, Dohuk province, on January 22nd or 23rd, 2020, according to local sources. Two men remain missing: it is unknown if they were also killed or arrested or kidnapped. It is unclear if the men were civilians or Peshmerga.

A local “security source” reported that four civilians were killed and others wounded in the evening of January 22nd, in the province of Kurdistan after Turkish airstrikes targeted Rashawa in the area of Deira Lock of Dohuk province.

According to Alayam, witnesses told the German news agency DPA that “four of them, north of Dohuk, were killed by the Turkish aircraft bombing this evening and that a fifth citizen is still missing.” The witnesses added that “the villagers were able to find two bodies and the search is underway for the other two bodies”. Relatives of the missing citizen reported that he was also located in the mountainous area targeted tonight.

Rudaw named two of the victims and said they were in the area to fish. There is also speculation that they were Peshmerga forces.

Fazel Hawramy initially tweeted that two civilians, both of them beekeepers, were killed but later updated the death toll to four.

Babylon FM published a similar report, naming four dead civilians, two of them beekeepers. However, in the picture, one of them is shown in a military uniform.

In May 2019, CPTIK published their report after interviews with family members of the killed and missing men. The report reads “the Turkish jets struck Matin Mountain and Zele and Hetut villages for more than one hour [on January 23rd, 2019]. The airstrike resulted in 6 civilian victims, four of the bodies were recovered, but the fate of the two others is still unknown.”

The brother of one of the victims, Haidar, told CPTIK: “My brother and four others were fishing in Zele village, where there were not any Turkish military bases around. My brother was working, fishing with others, but the Turkish aeroplanes bombed the area. Two of my brother’s friends were killed and their bodies were found in that spot; but the fate of my brother and one of his friends is still unknown and we do not know whether they were injured or killed, arrested or something else. Haider and his friends were innocent.”

Haidar and Redar are still missing, the bodies of two of their friends, both named Azad, were killed. According to CPTIK, all men were Peshmerga.

Two other men were killed in the village of Hetut. CPTIK: “Bakhtyar and Zyad had started beekeeping due to the financial crisis. They were in Hetut on the 23rd of January taking care of their bees. The Turkish jets bombed the village. It took two days for their bodies to be discovered.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Azad Shahin
Adult male killed
Wahid Baki
Adult male killed
Jegr Muhammad Tahr
Age unknown male killed
Azad Majd
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 4
  • (4 men)
  • 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 killed
    0–4

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Supoosed location of the incident
  • Pictures of the alleged victims
  • Picture supposedly taken at the funerals for the victims (via Rojnews)
  • Another picture supposedly taken at the funerals for the victims (via Rojnews)
  • Another picture supposedly taken at the funerals for the victims (via Rojnews)
  • Another picture supposedly taken at the funerals for the victims (via Rojnews)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Rashawa (رشاوة ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.865292, 42.991828. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 4
  • (4 men)
  • 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 killed
    0–4

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS257

Incident date

March 8, 2018

Location

قرية ترندة, Tarnada villlage, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.493056, 36.879444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three of four children from the same family died, and their mother was wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Tarnada village near the city of Afrin, according to local media. Reports said that their home was struck.

Afrin Now reported: The death of three children and the injury of a child and his mother as a result of the barbaric shelling of the Turkish occupation of the village of Tarnada adjacent to the city of Afrin. One of the shells landed on the house of a civilian in the village of Tarnada.

The Kurdish Red Crescent and other local sources named the three civilians who were killed and two injured.

However, according to SDF Press, the three-year-old Rashid Rifaat Ibrahim died in the attack.

IC Afrin Resistance went on to report that three children were still missing under the ruins, and at least one more civilian was killed.

According to IC Afrin Resistance, four children died, and the youngest child and the mother were seriously injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

14 years old female via Kurdish red crescent killed
13 years old male via Kurdish red crescent killed
10 years old male via Kurdish red crescent killed
31 years old female via Kurdish red crescent, bruised injured
3 years old male via Kurdish red crescent, injury to face and waist injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (3–4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows a child who was either injured or killed following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin 8th March 2018. (via: Afrin now facebook post)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows a child being treated following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin, 8th March 2018. (via: Afrin now facebook post)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows a child who killed following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin 8th March 2018. (via: Afrin now facebook post)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows a child Hala Ibrahim, a 13-year-old who was killed following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin 8th march 2018. (via Rumaf )
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows a child who was killed following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin 8th March 2018. (via: Afrin now facebook post)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows a child who was killed following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin 8th March 2018. (via: QSD Heza)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows a child Hala Ibrahim, a 13-year-old who was killed following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin 8th March 2018. (Source: QSD Heza)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows a child Hala Ibrahim, a 13-year-old who was killed following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin 8th march 2018. (via KRC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another image of Hala Ibrahim, a 13-year-old who was killed following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin 8th March 2018. (via: IC Afrin resistance)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows a child who was killed following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin 8th March 2018. (via: IC Afrin resistance)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows a child who was killed following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin 8th March 2018. (via: IC Afrin)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows a dead body of one of the children who killed a following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin 8th march 2018. (via: Rojava)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows the Kurdish red crescent team removing bodies from the spot of the reported shelling by Turkish on Tarnada village, Afrin, 8th March 2018. (via: Rojava)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows the Kurdish red crescent team removing bodies from the spot of the reported shelling by Turkish on Tarnada village, Afrin, 8th March 2018. (via: Wladimir)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows one of the children who was killed following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin 8th March 2018. (via: Rumaf)
  • A group of people of Afrin demonstrating to express their anger of the death of three children by the Turkish airstrikes. (source: IC Afrin)
  • A group of people of Afrin demonstrating to express their anger of the death of three children by the Turkish airstrikes. (source: IC Afrin)
  • A group of people of Afrin demonstrating to express their anger of the death of three children by the Turkish airstrikes. (source: IC Afrin)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows one of the children who was killed following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin 8th March 2018. (via: Rumaf)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows one of the children who was killed following an alleged Turkish shelling on Tarnada village, Afrin 8th March 2018. (via: KRC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tarnada villlage, Afrin (قرية ترندة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.493056, 36.879444. 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
    3 – 4
  • (3–4 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS033

Incident date

December 28, 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

Al Bab Al Hadath reported that Qadro Al-Jadeed and his family were killed in a Turkish airstrike “a few days ago” on December 31st.

There is currently no more information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Qadro Al-Jadeed
Adult male

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ 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
    2 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS089

Incident date

July 10, 2017

Location

تل رفعت كفر ناصح, The area between Tal Rifa’at and Kafr Nasseh, northern Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.4478682, 37.1035767 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported the death of between two and four civilians and injury of as many as dozens more in an alleged Turkish artillery bombardment in area between Tal Rifa’at and Kafr Nasseh, Syria.

According to Rumaf, “four people from one family died and dozens more were injured in the area between Tel Rifaat and Kafr Naaseh due to the violent aggression by the Turkish occupation based in the city of Izzaz and Mara. The shelling has not stopped since yesterday in the middle of the night until now [July 10th].”

A further report by Rumaf included the image of a boy whose leg had been amputated. The source said: “The child (Omar Abdo Sakran) lost his leg as a result of the indiscriminate bombardment byTurkey. At the same time, he lost his father Abdo Sakran and other members of his family were injured. What is very sad is that the child Omar saw his father’s body without his head and didn’t recognise him as his father.”

According to Rok Online, “two civilians were killed and five others wounded on Monday [July 10th] in an artillery bombardment by the Turkish army and the factions of the Euphrates Shield on the Al-Shahba area in the northern countryside of Aleppo. Artillery shelling occurred in Tal Refa’at, Sheikh Issa, Kafr al-Nasab and Harbal in the north of Aleppo. The correspondent added that the injured civilians were taken to the hospital Afrin in the city of Afrin, which coincided with an escalation in shelling of the areas mentioned.”

Sputnik reported that Turkey were using “heavy artillery and rocket-propelled grenades…causing the destruction of a large number of residential buildings and the burning of agricultural crops and land in Tal Refa’at, Shaikh Issa, Harbel, and al shahba dam.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdo Sukran Ibn Omar
Adult male killed
Mohammed Issa Ibn Dibu
Adult male killed
Abu Ghraib Al Sukran
Age unknown male injured
Ahmed Al-Sukran
Age unknown male injured
Son of Abdo al-Sukran
10 years old male injured
Ali Badran
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–24
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

  • The child (Omar Abdo Sakran) lost his leg in an alleged Turkish shelling on he area between Tel Rifaat and Kafr Naaseh, July 10th 2017. (via Rumaf)
  • The exact moment an allged Turkish airstrike targeted the area between Tal Rifa’at and Kafr Nasseh, 10th July 2017. (via RuMaf facebook)
  • The exact moment an allged Turkish airstrike targeted the area between Tal Rifa’at and Kafr Nasseh, 10th July 2017. (via RuMaf facebook)
  • The exact moment an allged Turkish airstrike targeted the area between Tal Rifa’at and Kafr Nasseh, 10th July 2017. (via RuMaf facebook)
  • A man injured in an allged Turkish airstrike targeted the area between Tal Rifa’at and Kafr Nasseh, 10th July 2017. (via RuMaf facebook)
  • A man injured in an allged Turkish airstrike targeted the area between Tal Rifa’at and Kafr Nasseh, 10th July 2017. (via RuMaf facebook)
  • Civilians injured in an allged Turkish airstrike targeted the area between Tal Rifa’at and Kafr Nasseh, 10th July 2017. (via RuMaf facebook)
  • A man injured in an allged Turkish airstrike targeted the area between Tal Rifa’at and Kafr Nasseh, 10th July 2017. (via RuMaf facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of The area between Tal Rifa’at and Kafr Nasseh (تل رفعت كفر ناصح), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.4478682, 37.1035767. 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 – 4
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–24
  • 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

CS462 TS066

Incident date

January 27, 2017

Location

البزاعة, Al Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3829071, 37.56666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians were killed in alleged Coalition or Turkish airstrikes, according to sources.

The Syrian Network noted that “four civilians (2 children and their parents) died when International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Baza’a city in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs.”

However according to Ara News, “A statement issued by the Presidency of the Turkish General Staff said on Friday ‘Fighter jets belonging to the Turkish Air Force were able during the raids carried out on Thursday to neutralize 22 terrorists and destroy 272 objectives in al Bab city and the town of Baza’a in northern Syria, including 21 shelters for ISIL, a centralized command and an ammunition store’.”

The Syrian Observatory also blamed Ankara: “A child and a woman were martyred in Turkish raids on Baza’a and in Turkish artillery on al Bab.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1–2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Baza’a (البزاعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.3829071, 37.56666. 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 Baza’a (Aleppo), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA7143827368
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For January 26th-27th the Coalition publicly noted no strikes in Aleppo governorate, and likewise for January 27th-28th.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1–2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS031

Incident date

December 25, 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 two and three civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Al Bab, Syria.

Al-Bab Al-Hadath wrote on Facebook: “A woman died last night due to Turkish warplanes shelling in Al-Bab.” Halab News, however, named two dead calling them both adult males. Aleppo AMC only reported artillery shelling but no victims.

The Syrian Observatory mentioned airstrikes and artillery shelling, and only reported “injuries”.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Ayman Mohammed Latuf Al-Najjar
Adult male killed
Mohammed Karman
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • URGENT: Turkish artillery bombardment targets Bab al-Bab north of Aleppo. 25th December 2016. (via Aleppo AMC)

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
    2 – 3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • 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]