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

TS062

Incident date

January 25, 2017

Location

تادف, Tadef, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two named children died in either Turkish or Coalition airstrikes on Tadef.
According to the Syrian Network “The children So’ad and Jonaid Fares Al Ali died after International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Tadef town in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs.”

However according to al Bab News, “Turkish planes launched three raids at dawn today killing two from the family of Faress al Ali who is from the rescue teams in al Bab. His daughter Souad al Ali, 15 years old and his son Juneid Al Ali, 9 years old and he [the father] was injured. Several buildings were totally destroyed.”

Al Bab 24 noted on the same day “a violent air and artillery bombardment from the Russian and Nusairi [sectarian term refering to Alawites] and Turkish [armies] in coordination targeting al Bab, Tadef, Baza’a and several village nearby al Bab hit with no casualties recorded thank God.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also blamed Turkey, but put the death count at three, reporting that “three from the same family including a woman with her grand daughter and son died in the town of Tadif near al-Bab city”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Souad Al Ali
15 years old male
Juneid Al Ali
9 years old

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS177

Incident date

February 9, 2018

Location

شيخ حديد, Sheikh Hadid, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.496944, 36.598333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the occurrence of civilian casualties as a result of the Turkish artillery shelling targeting areas in the Sheikh Hadid area in the western countryside of Afrin. The Observatory later put the number killed in Sheikh Hadid at three.

No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Sheikh Hadid, Afrin (شيخ حديد), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.496944, 36.598333. 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
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS273

Incident date

March 14, 2018

Location

نبل, Nubl town, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.379722, 36.989167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media, three civilians were killed followed an alleged Turkish airstrike on Nubl town.

According to Enabbaladi, the Syrian regime’s media published a statement saying that Turkish planes’ targeted allied positions in Nabal and Zahra, which resulted in a number of civilian martyrs.

An image published shows the casualties to be young men.

Only one other source reported that civilians had been killed. Endi Zentarmi said: “After bombing a checkpoint in the Ziyarah area and killing eight pro-regime fighters, Turk jets have now also bombed the regime-controlled town of Nubl (south-east of Afrin city), killing at least three civilians. The airstrikes are deemed deliberate.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (0–3 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A picture shows the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrike, which targeted a checkpoint in the Ziyarah area which led the killing of three civilians (source: Qawem online)
  • A picture shows the checkpoint site destruction followed an alleged Turkish airstrike. Local sources claimed the death of three civilians and 8 combatants (source: Qawem online)
  • A picture shows the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrike, which targeted a checkpoint in the Ziyarah area which led the killing of three civilians (source: Qawem online)
  • Three of the victims of the alleged Turkish airstrike on Nubla, 14th March 2018. (via Sy7Syria)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Nubl town, Afrin (نبل), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.379722, 36.989167. 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
  • (0–3 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS044

Incident date

January 9, 2017

Location

بزاعة , Baza’a town, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians including a child and a woman died and 12 others were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Baza’a town in the eastern Aleppo countryside, Syria, sources on the ground reported.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “two civilians (a child and a woman) died in a Der’ Al Furat- supported by Turkish forces artillery shelling of Baza’a town in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs, January 9, 2017.”

The IS propaganda source, Al Raed La Ykazeb Ahlahu, also said that a child and a woman died in Turkish shelling.

A ‘martyrs list’ published by jabal-aqel-albab.tk said that there were “three martyrs from Baza’a including a woman and a child and more than 12 wounded.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Heavy shelling by the Turkish artillery on the neighborhoods of the city of # Bab and town # Bzaa continued for three days and targeted the concentration of forces # Dahed inside #Aleppo

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Baza’a town ( بزاعة ), 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.

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 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS059

Incident date

January 23, 2017

Location

تل بطنان, Tal Btan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.395556, 37.538889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On January 25th, a single source, Al Bab24, reported: “Rescue teams managed to pull out the bodies of three people from al Othman family. Rasoul al Othman was identified. They were killed a few days ago in Tal Btan, Syria following Turkish artillery shelling.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rasoul al Othman
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1–3 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal Btan ( تل بطنان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.395556, 37.538889. 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
  • (1–3 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Incident Code

TI003

Incident date

September 11, 2015

Location

قنديل, اقشين, الزاب, Qandil, Avashin and Zap, Kurdistan, Iraq

Geolocation

36.632443, 44.189773 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Turkish air forces bombed positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, the army said in a statement.

Airstrikes hit mountainous areas in northern Iraq, including Qandil, Avashin and Zap.

Turkish authorities said their strikes hit locations of the PKK rebels. However, Kurdish sources in northern Iraq reported via a single source that the attacks also caused civilian casualties.

There is currently no more information available on exact casualty numbers.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Qandil, Avashin and Zap (قنديل, اقشين, الزاب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.632443, 44.189773. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS417 TS025

Incident date

December 17, 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

Three unnamed civilian males were reported killed in a Turkish (or less likely Coalition) action at al Bab. The Coalition later denied responsibility.

According to Step News, “Turkish planes targeted al Bab, east of Aleppo, with three raids and there are news about casualties.” VDC later reported three unidentfied male civilian deaths – though said these were a result of actions by “International Coalition forces.”

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials said the event was presently assessed as ‘Not credible’ with “no Coalition strikes conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Tweet reporting more than 50 alleged Turkish raids targeting al Bab over the last 12 hours. 17th December 2016. (via Muhammad Smiry)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al-Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Bab, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 16th-18th 2016 the Coalition has publicly reported no strikes in the vicinity.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

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

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

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI004

Incident date

February 4, 2016

Location

قرية الفاضلية, Fadhiliya, Kurdistan, Iraq

Geolocation

36.509167, 43.270278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Fadhiliya.

According to the Iraqi National News Agency, “the bombardment of Fadhiliya village at the foot of Mount Bachik, resulted in the deaths of three civilians and the wounding of two others.”

There is currently no other known source available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Fadhiliya (قرية الفاضلية), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.509167, 43.270278. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]