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

TS562

Incident date

October 27, 2022

Location

عقيبة, Aqiba, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.4375, 36.968333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Aqiba on October 27, 2022.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that two children were injured by Turkish shelling of civilian homes in the village of Aqiba. SOHR added that Turkish forces launched more than 15 artillery shells at the village of Oqiba and that the shelling came from Turkish forces stationed in the village of Jalbal.

Hawar News provided the names of the the two children injured: Samar Idris (4 years old) and Joan Idris (3 years old). Both children were transferred to the hospital in Tel Rifaat district for treatment.

Both of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Samar Idris
4 years old injured
Joan Idris
3 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Oqiba on October 27, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Oqiba on October 27, 2022. (Image posted by برجاف - FM)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Oqiba on October 27, 2022. (Image posted by برجاف - FM)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Oqiba on October 27, 2022. (Image posted by برجاف - FM)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Aqiba (عقيبة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.4375, 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
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI088

Incident date

October 16, 2022

Location

برادوست, Bradost area, Erbil, Iraq

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a woman, was injured by alleged Turkish airstrikes or drone strikes on the Bradost area in northern Erbil province on October 16, 2022.

Kurdistan 24 reported that a 30 year old woman named Sharmin Asad was injured by Turkish airstrike in the Bradost area in northern Erbil province. Ihsan Chalabi, the mayor of Sidakan, told Kurdistan 24 that the injured woman is from Sideman district and she was in the area visiting her relatives. She was transferred to the hospital and is receiving medical treatment, and her condition is stable.

BasNews specified that the drone strikes affected the Robi and Riwall resorts of Sidakan subdistrict, which the injured woman Sharmin was visiting. Rudaw News reported that the woman had been hit by shrapnel from a shell and that he injury was light.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the injury to Turkish forces, referring to both airstrikes or drone strikes.

The incident occured at approximately 12:30 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Sharmin Asad
30 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Turkish airstrikes on the Bradost area in northern Erbil province on October 16, 2022. (Image posted by Kurdistan24)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS561

Incident date

October 14, 2022

Location

الفكة, Al Fakkah, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.728188, 40.399893 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two farmers were injured when alleged Turkish artillery shells struck their agricultural land in the village of Al-Fakkah on October 14, 2022.

Hawar News reported that two farmers were wounded when Turkish forces bombed the village of Al-Fakkah, north of Tal Tamer District. Local residents told Hawar the the two injured civilians, Dhiyab Khalaf al-Darwish (40 years old) and Hajj Yassin al-Darwish (40 years old), were injured while working on their agricultural land and were transferred to Al-Shahida Lycrin Hospital for treatment.

Lou’i Bakr, a director of a hospital in Tel Tamr, told North Press that the Turkish forces targeted with several shells the village of Al-Fakkah, resulting in the injury of two farmers on their land. At the time of the reporting, the condition of the wounded civilians was not known yet.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Dijla-Syrian desert also reported that two civilians were wounded by Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

40 years old injured
40 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Fakkah (الفكة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.728188, 40.399893. 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 infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS560

Incident date

October 12, 2022

Location

شيراوا, Sherawa district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.466500, 36.887006 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

36.464198, 36.866351 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map 36.410735, 36.862676 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three women, including a pregnant woman, were killed and children were injured in clashes between Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and Turkish forces-associated Levant Front in the Sherawa district of Afrin on October 12, 2022.

Hawar News reported that three women, including a pregnant woman, were killed and children were injured in the clashes, specifically artillery shelling and tanks, between Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Levant Front in occupied Afrin. A local source told Hawar that the casualties occurred in the villages of Burj Abdalo, Karzila and Ain Dara in Sherawa district, and that the pregnant woman named Fatima Mahmoud al-Abed that was killed was from the village of Karzila.

Al Khabour posted on Facebook that one of the women was killed by artillery shelling by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham on the village of Burj Abdalo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also identified a woman as being killed by “indiscriminate bullets and shrapnel” but did not specify which village in Sherawa district.

A video posted by Ahmad M. Ahmad shows the moment a shell fell on the home of a civilian in the village of Karzila.

Source were conflicted as to whether the casualties were caused by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Levant Front, a Turkish proxy fighting force.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fatima Mahmoud al-Abed
Adult female pregnant killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 attackers
    Turkish Military, Rebel Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims of clashes between Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Levant Front in Afrin on October 12, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • What is happening since this morning in the city of Afrin and its environs is fierce battles between the armed factions affiliated with Turkey. Artillery shelling targeting the vicinity of the city of Afrin at these moments. Violent clashes in the villages of Shirawa district, extending to the outskirts of Afrin. - Violent clashes inside the village of Karzila/Krzyhel in Shirawa district. -According to a call I had with my parents inside the Jindires district, the sounds of violent clashes are heard from the south of the district, and the clashes are concentrated in the villages of Deir Ballut and Muhammadiyah. The video below shows the moment a shell fell on the house of a civilian in the village of Karzila / Karzyhel. "We wish safety to our people in the city of Afrin and its villages"

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the villages of Karzila (قرزيحل), Ayn Dara (عين دارة), and Burj Abdalo (برج عبد الله). The generic coordinates for Karzila are: 36.466500, 36.887006. The generic coordinates for Ayn Dara are: 36.464198, 36.866351. The generic coordinates for Burj Abdalo are: 36.410735, 36.862676. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the locations further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Rebel Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Rebel Forces
  • Rebel Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 attackers
    Turkish Military, Rebel Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS559

Incident date

October 4, 2022

Location

قرية مطمورة, Matmoura village, Hassakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians, including a woman, were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Matmoura on October 4, 2022.

According to Hawar News, a civilian named Yashar Hussein al-Kamouri was wounded in the village of Matmoura by Turkish shelling.

North Press Agency also identified another civilian, a woman named Ishar al-Hussein, was injured in the bombardment of Matmoura. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment of her wounds.

Both Hawar News and North Press Agency reported that there was heavy damage to civilians’ homes from the bombing and displaced people from the villages. All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS557

Incident date

October 3, 2022

Location

قرية تل اللبن, Tal al-Laban village, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.614167, 40.199444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Tal al-Laban in the Tel Tamr countryside on October 3, 2022.

According to Hawar News, four civilians were injured when Turkish forces bombed the village of Tal al-Laban and the injured were taken to a hospital in Tel Tamr district to receive treatment. The names of the injured as Hajj Ibrahim Muhammad al-Faqir, Qusay Musa al-Faqir, Abdul Majeed al-Faraj and Najm Abdullah Habib.

A medical source from Legation Hospital in Tel Tamr told North Press Agency that the four civilians were wounded to varying degrees of severity.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkish forces and a military source told North Press Agency that Turkey fired a barrage of artillery shells at Tal al-Laban.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hajj Ibrahim Muhammad al-Faqir
injured
Qusay Musa al-Faqir
injured

The victims were named as:

Abdul Majeed al-Faraj
Age unknown injured
Najm Abdullah Habib
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians injured by alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Tal al-Laban on October 3, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal al-Laban village (قرية تل اللبن), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.614167, 40.199444. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS558

Incident date

October 3, 2022

Location

قرية قارموكس, Qaramox village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.830000, 38.552222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Qaramox village on October 3, 2022.

Kurdistan24 quoted Rojava Information Center reported that two civilians were injured by a Turkish bombardment in Qaramox village, near Kobani.

A military source told North Press Agency that two people were slightly injured by the bombing in the Kobani countryside. North Press also provided the names of those injured: Masoud Abu Ayoub, 53, from Qaramogh, Mustafa Hero, 25, from the village of Goran.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkey.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

53 years old injured
25 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
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Qaramox village (قرية قارموكس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.830000, 38.552222. 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
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS556

Incident date

September 27, 2022

Location

قرية مشيرفة, Mushairfa village, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.932270, 40.341777 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were killed and up to eight other civilians, including three women and two children, were injured in alleged Turkish bombardment of the village of Mushairfa on September 27, 2022.

According to Hawar News, two civilians were killed and five others, including women and children, were injured when Turkish forces bombed the village of Mushairfa in the northern countryside of Zarkan. Hawar also provided the names of those killed as Nayef Abdel Qader Hayawi and Rima Ahmed Ismail Hayawi and the names of those injured as Rahaf Kataf, Hagaa Hayawi, Judy Hayawi, Donia Ismail and Fayez Hayawi. The injured civilians were taken to the People’s Hospital in al-Darbasiyah district and to the hospitals of al-Hasakah city. A medical source from Shahid Khabat Hospital told North Press that some of the injured were seriously injured.

North Press Agency reported that two people were killed and four others were wounded by Turkish shelling of the town of Mushairfa, in addition to material damage to the residents’ properties.

Activists of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) documented the death of two children and the injury of eight others, including three women and two children, in the village of Mushairfa. SOHR aded that the shells also fell on civilian homes and the cotton picking workshop near the villages of Al-Asadiya and Mushairfa.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkish forces.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Nayef Abdel Qader Hayawi نايف عبد القادر حياوي
Child killed
Rima Ahmed Ismail Hayawi ريما أحمد إسماعيل حياوي
Child killed
Hagaa Hayawi هجاء حياوي
injured
Judy Hayawi جودي حياوي
injured
Fayez Hayawi فايز حياوي
injured

The victims were named as:

Rahaf Kataf رهف قطاف
Age unknown injured
Donia Ismail دنيا إسماعيل
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Mushairfa village on September 27, 2022. (Image posted by North Press)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic images of the victims of alleged Turkish shelling of Mushairfa village on September 27, 2022. (Image posted by ANF)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mushairfa (مشيرفة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.932270, 40.341777. 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
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]