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

TS567

Incident date

November 20, 2022

Location

جورين, Syria

Geolocation

35.616504, 36.268706 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child, a boy, and a woman, his mother, were injured as a result of Turkish-backed militant action, from factions of the “Al-Fateh Al-Mubin”. The actions were reported to include artillery shells hitting the town of Jourin on November 20th 2022.

The woman and child were reportedly transferred to the Suqaylabiyah National Hospital for treatment.

Pressn and other local sources also reported that the shells caused material damage to some local residential properties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mother
Adult female injured
Son
Child male 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Residental houses reportedly damaged by Turkish backed militant missile fire on November 20th 2022 in Jourin (Image via Alalam)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Jourin (جورين), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.616504, 36.268706. 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS564

Incident date

November 6, 2022

Location

قامشلو, Qamishlo, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including an unknown number of children, were reported injured as a result an alleged Turkish drone strike on a vehicle on Al-Hizam Al-Ghaby Road, near Al-Saada School in Al-Qamishly city in Al-Hasakah countryside, Syria, on November 6th 2022.

Two to three SDF fighters, including a commander and a driver, were also reportedly killed in this attack.  Hussein Bari reported that one SDF member killed was the “fighter” Kamal Muhammad Ali, possibly also known as “Mitan Shorsch”.

The media center of the Syrian Democratic Forces issued this statement: “The Turkish occupation’s attacks against civilians’ places and properties continue, and yesterday, Sunday, November 6, and in thevening hours when a fighter from our forces was spending his vacation in his home and was walking around with two of his civilian comrades, they were targeted by the Turkish occupation army.”

“The car in which our fighter, “Mitan Shorsch” and his two companions, was travelling, was targeted by a drone of the Turkish occupation army, which resulted in the death of our comrade Mitan, and the injury of civilians.”

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • "QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) - A fighter of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) lost his life after a Turkish drone hit his car in the city of Qamishli in northeast Syria on Sunday." (North Press Agency)
  • An alleged Turkish drone strike hit a vehicle, injuring three civilian passerbys on November 6th 2022 (Image via Dilovan Çeto / Facebook)
  • "The martyrdom of the fighter Kamal Muhammad Ali, son of the city of Sere-Kaniye, during the bombing of a Turkish march on a car in the city of Qamishlo", SDF militant reported killed (Image via حسين بري Hussein Bari / Facebook)

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
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS563

Incident date

November 3, 2022

Location

تل حلف, Tal Halaf, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.8237138, 40.0378232 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A nine year old girl was killed when an alleged Turkish armored vehicle ran her over in the village of Tal Halaf on November 3, 2022.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a girl was killed when she was run over by a Turkish vehicle in the village of Tal Halaf.

A local source told North Press Agency that a Turkish armored vehicle ran over a nine year old girl named Naranj Suleiman Al-Hafiz, near the roundabout of the town of Tal Halaf, while she was on her way to the Sharia Institute. The local source added that the Turkish vehicle did not help the girl, who died on the way to the hospital. Vedeng News added that the incident occurred at 8:30 in the morning.

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

The incident occured at 08:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Naranj Suleiman Al-Hafiz
9 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • Naranj Suleiman Al-Hafiz, 9 years old, killed by a Turkish armored vehicle in Tal Halaf on November 3, 2022. (Image posted by Baladi News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal Halaf (تل حلف), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.8237138, 40.0378232. 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
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • 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

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)

Dhiyab Khalaf al-Darwish
40 years old injured
Hajj Yassin al-Darwish
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]