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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Turkish Military
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Incident Code

TS101

Incident date

January 21, 2018

Location

ماريامين, Mariamain and Diwa villages, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.531667, 36.950833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Afrin Now reported that three civilians were killed and 13 wounded in an alleged Turkish strike on Mariamain and Diwa villages.

According to Almjhar, Hawar, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Tardous News, two of the victims died in Mariamain’s Shara area, and one in Diwa’s Gendressa quarter.

Afrin Now named Ahmad Himmo as one of the three victims, though did not say which of the two villages he came from.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Himmo
Adult male killed
Ismail Al Hussein
9 years old male injured
Fadi Al Hussein
10 years old injured
Abdul Sattar Jenco
28 years old male injured
Mohammed Abdo Jenko
27 years old male injured
Ismail Mohammed Ibrahim
12 years old injured
Fadi Mohammed Abdo
10 years old injured
Hamid Battal
30 years old injured
Khalid Abdul Qader
46 years old male injured
Hamida Ibrahim
3 years old injured
Faiza Badr Al Hassan
24 years old injured
Driana Mohammed Seedo
Age unknown injured
Hiba Akram
13 years old injured
unknown civilian aged 30 years
30 years old injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Injured civilian being treated in a medical facility following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mariamain and Diwa villages, 21st Jan 2018. (via Afrin now)
  • Injured civilian being treated in a medical facility following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mariamain and Diwa villages, 21st Jan 2018. (via Afrin now)
  • Injured civilian being treated in a medical facility following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mariamain and Diwa villages, 21st Jan 2018. (via Afrin now)
  • Injured civilian being treated in a medical facility following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mariamain and Diwa villages, 21st Jan 2018. (via Afrin now)
  • Injured civilian being treated in a medical facility following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mariamain and Diwa villages, 21st Jan 2018. (via Afrin now)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mariamain and Diwa villages (ماريامين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.531667, 36.950833. 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 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (6) [ collapse]

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

TS123

Incident date

January 24, 2018

Location

شيا عفرين, Shya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported that two civilian males were killed and five injured in the vicinity of Shya in Afrin canton.

A report shared with Airwars, named the five injured men.

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Rashed Hassan
33 years old male killed
Shekho Haydar Shalik
39 years old male killed
Ahmad Ali Murad
20 years old male named by a report shared with Airwars injured
Zakarya Hason
37 years old male named by a report shared with Airwars injured
Majed Haysam Shabo
41 years old male named by a report shared with Airwars injured
Alosh Muhamad Mustafa
25 years old male named by a report shared with Airwars injured
Marwan Horo
32 years old male named by a report shared with Airwars injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

    • English
    • English

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Shya (شيا عفرين), 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
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

    • English
    • English

Incident Code

TS134

Incident date

January 28, 2018

Location

بلبلة, Bulbula, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.770899, 36.818318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Military Council for Manbij [SDF] reported that a “Turkish aircraft targeted Bulbula this morning which resulted in the death and injury of civilians in the town”.

Kobanidil also reported that an unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in the attack.

Afrin Now named a 60 year old male victim, however The Kurdish Red Crescent placed his death on January 27th.

The same photos as TS133 were posted for reports regarding this incident, and Airwars are unsure as to which incident they belong. To see the photo’s please see previous incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Mustafa Mastori
60 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bulbula, Afrin (بلبلة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.770899, 36.818318. 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
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS113

Incident date

January 23, 2018

Location

الهلالية, Al Hilalya neighbourhood of Al Qamishi, Hassaka, Syria

Geolocation

37.054444, 41.1975 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “two children were injured due to the falling of the shells, following firing at the SDF from the Turkish side”. Syria News claimed the children were killed.

Smart News reported that “a shell fired from the Turkish city of Nisibin fell on the neighbourhood, which resulted in the injury of two children… who were then taken to a hospital in the city.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • (0–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of alleged Turkish shelling which targeted and ruined a family home, 23rd January 2018. (via Kurdistand AR)
  • The aftermath of alleged Turkish shelling which targeted and ruined a family home, 23rd January 2018. (via Qamishlo news)
  • The aftermath of alleged Turkish shelling which targeted and ruined a family home, 23rd January 2018. (via Qamishlo news)
  • The aftermath of alleged Turkish shelling which targeted and ruined a family home, 23rd January 2018. (via Qamishlo news)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Hilalya neighbourhood of Al Qamishi (الهلالية), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.054444, 41.1975. 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
    0 – 2
  • (0–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS176

Incident date

February 9, 2018

Location

شكفاتي وتوميشا, Shakfati and Tormmisha village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.527674, 36.655691

Airwars assessment

According to a signal source, an unidentified number of civilians were killed followed an alleged Turkish air strike on Shakfati and Tormmisha village, Afrin.

Rumaf reported that At 16:00 on Friday, the Turkish invasion aircraft shelled the village of Shakfati and Tormisha, where it later emerged that the air invasion had committed a massacre against a family, destroying its home. The bodies were recovered at night when air strikes subsided.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS208

Incident date

February 17, 2018

Location

سرنجاك و كوبلاكا, Sarinjak and Kuplaka, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.723889, 36.911944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to several local sources, one woman and one man died in an alleged Turkish shelling of Sarinjak and Kuplaka, Syria.

According to Rumaf, since the morning hours, the villages of Sarinjak and Kublka have been subjected to heavy shelling. The primary result is the fall of a woman and a man and the wounding of others. The shelling continues.

Afrin Today reported no deaths though said that a female 51-year-old, was wounded by an artillery shell that hit her house in the village of Koblaka in the Shiran area.

Other sources also reported the death of a woman and a man.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A picture shows the same victim (Fikret Elî Hesen), 51 years old wounded following an alleged Turkish shelling on Sarinjak and Kuplaka (Source: IC Afrin Resistance)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of Fikret Ali Hassan who was wounded following an alleged Turkish shelling on Sarinjak and Kuplaka (Source: Afrin Today)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another picture that shows the same victim (Fikret Elî Hesen) being treated at the midical care after she wounded following an alleged Turkish shelling on Sarinjak and Kuplaka (Source: IC Afrin Resistance)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sarinjak and Kuplaka (سرنجاك و كوبلاكا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.723889, 36.911944. 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
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS283

Incident date

March 19, 2018

Location

كيمار, Kimar village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.525000, 36.910278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several sources claimed civilians casualties following alleged Turkish airstrikes or artillery shelling on Kimar village, Afrin – though specific numbers were not given.

Claudia, a Kurdish activist, tweeted: “Invaders warplanes are bombing the Kimar village amid intense clashes. We should expect a new massacre of civilians in this village.”

ANF added that “according to reports from the ground, Turkish invasion forces and allied gangs conducted artillery attacks against Basute and Kimara villages in Afrin’s Sherawa district.” ANF went on to add that a heavy bombardment with mortars and howitzers “killed several civilians.”

IC Afrin Resistance reported: “The mosque of Kimar village in Sherawa district has been attacked by Turkish army and related jihadist FSA groups. Civilians have been monitored and they have been attacked by drones belonging to the Turkish army.”

While Hawar reported that there might be martyrs and wounded civilians in the bombing, a later report said that casualties had been reported but did not give numbers.

It is not clear whether the civilians were killed followed the artillery shelling or the airstrike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kimar village, Afrin (كيمار), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.525000, 36.910278. 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
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]