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

TS531

Incident date

July 24, 2022

Location

قرية مجيبيره, Mujbayrah village, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.809285, 40.191507 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed by a reported Turkish artillery and rocket fire when it struck Mujbayrah village, Tel Tamr in Al Hassakah, Syria, on July 24th 2022. Four to five others, including two women, were injured.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the bombardment resulted in the death of one civilian in Mujbayrah village and the injury of eight others, including a woman and two children, in the area from Abu Rasin (Zarkan) to Tel Tamr countryside. However, the source did not specify whether the injuries occurred in in Tel Tamr or Zarkan district.

North Press Agency provided the name of the victims: Hassan Ibrahim was killed and Farhan Ali, 50 and Wadha Omar, 70, who are from Mujbayrah, Fayez Mahmoud, 19, from Khashmah, and Rajiha Yassen, 65, from Bab al-kheir were wounded. A source in the Tel Tamr Military Council also told North Press Agency that “one of Tawila’s residents got wounded due to the shelling”.

Hawar News reported that one civilian was killed and four others, including two women, were injured when Turkish forces launched a violent bombardment on Tel Tamr.

North Press Agency added that the shelling in the Hassakah by Turkish forces and their affiliates “left the Tel Tamr power transformer station out of service for the 27th time since the beginning of 2022.” The villages in Tel Tamr that were affected by the shelling were “Tawila, Tel Shanan, Umm al-Keif, the vicinity of the Russian Military Base, Tel Juma’, Ghaybish, al-Mujibera, Bab al-Kheir, and al-Khashma” in northern and western countryside of Tel Tamr”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Ibrahim
Age unknown male from Mujbayrah killed
Farhan Ali
50 years old from Mujbayrah injured
Wadha Omar
70 years old from Mujbayrah injured
Fayez Mahmoud
19 years old from Khashmah injured
Rajiha Yassen
65 years old from Bab al-kheir injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • A wounded elderly woman due to the Turkish shelling of her village. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims of the alleged Turkish bombardment of villages in Tel Tamr in Al Hassakah, Syria, on July 24th 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • One of the victims of the alleged Turkish bombardment of villages in Tel Tamr in Al Hassakah, Syria, on July 24th 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • One of the victims of the alleged Turkish bombardment of villages in Tel Tamr in Al Hassakah, Syria, on July 24th 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • One of the victims of the alleged Turkish bombardment of villages in Tel Tamr in Al Hassakah, Syria, on July 24th 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mujbayrah (مجيبيره), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.809285, 40.191507. 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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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

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

TS595

Incident date

May 17, 2023

Location

مخيم عين عيسى, Ain Issa camp, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.400501, 38.849306 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Ain Issa camp on May 17, 2023.

Hawar News reported that during the second incident in Ain Issa district on May 17th, two civilians were injured when Turkish forces bombarded Ain Issa camp. Correspondents for Hawar added that the shelling caused an outbreak of fire in the camp, and firefighting teams could not reach the scene to put out the fire due to continuous shelling. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that both civilians injured were taken to the hospital to receive treatment, and an image posted by Hawar News shows two men being treated for injuries.

Ronahi TV provided the names of the injured: Muhammad Al-Balikh and Mahmoud Al-Jassem.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Al-Balikh محمد البليخ
Age unknown male injured
Mahmoud Al-Jassem محمود الجاسم
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • 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]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of alleged Turkish shelling of Ain Issa camp on May 17, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Ain Issa Camp (مخيم عين عيسى) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.400501, 38.849306. 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
    IDP or refugee camp
  • 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

TS623

Incident date

August 16, 2023

Location

راس العين , Ras Al Ayn, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the 16th of August, 2023, at least four civilians, including a child and a woman, were injured in an outbreak of violence between two reportedly Turkish backed armed factions in the Al Mahatta neighborhood of the city of Ras Al Ayn, in Syria’s Al Hasakah Governorate.

The clashes allegedly began after raids carried out by the military police and the Hamza Division on homes belonging to members of the Al Mawali and the Suleiman Shah Brigade. The raids were aimed at smugglers that refused to pay their share of the proceeds to the police and to the Hamza Division, according to reports from both the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Foxpress. Both sources also reported that civilian women were assaulted during the raids and civilian’s possessions were stolen. In retaliation, according to a source speaking to the North Press Agency,  “Nawaf al-Tarkawi, one of Suleiman Shah’s leaders in the city of Ras al-Ain, attacked the headquarters of the Abu Qafs group of the Hamzah faction with [12.7 mm] medium machine guns and RPGs in the center of the city, which led to six casualties, including two civilians, one of whom was a child. In critical condition, they were taken to the city hospital.” In addition, NPA and Foxpress reported the injury of a woman and three men after a stray shell breached the wall of their house, with NPA mentioning material damage in addition to the civilian injuries from the clashes.

All sources covering the incident have reported the Turkish backed factions as belligerents, and the violence between them as the reason for the civilian injuries – however, at present it is not clear which of the factions are responsible for each of these casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported injured
    4

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported injured
    4

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI097

Incident date

October 7, 2023

Location

مخيم مخمور, Makhmur Camp, Erbil Governorate , Kurdistan, Iraq

Airwars assessment

On October 7th, 2023, a civilian was killed and at least three civilians—a woman and two boys— were injured after an alleged Turkish drone strike on the Makhmour Camp in the Erbil Governorate of the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

The woman, who remains unnamed, was reported to be 72-years-old (born in 1951), and appears to have received an injury to her arm or shoulder; images from sources corroborate this. One of the boys was reported to be 15 (born in 2008); images included show him with an oxygen mask and IV. The other boy, who appears to be younger, was pictured receiving medical care to his leg. Rudaw Media Network reported that one other civilian was killed, but this was not corroborated elsewhere, and no identifying details of this victim were made public. Those injured were housed in the second section of the camp.

The strike occurred at 7:05 pm, according to Rudaw, and hit the camp mosque during the evening prayer. Rashad Kalali, the deputy official of Kurdish political party Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, was reported by Rudaw as saying that there were rumors that PKK militants were inside the camp, which resulted in its targeting. These rumors, Kalali stressed, were not accurate.

The camp, which locals call the Martyr Rustam Cudi Camp, houses between 10,000 to 12,000 people, primarily Kurds displaced from neighboring Turkey.

The incident occured at 19:05:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Religious Institution
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ronahi.tv

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: ANF

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ronahi.tv

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ronahi.tv

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 infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp, Religious Institution
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS043

Incident date

January 7, 2017

Location

مدينة 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 three and six civilians including one child died and several others were wounded in alleged Turkish air or artillery strikes on Al Bab, Syria, local media reported.

Al Raed La Ykazeb Ahlahu cited the IS media agency Al A’amaq, reporting that there had been “18 Turkish raids on Al Bab and more than 100 artillery shells dropped on January 7th”.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “Turkish forces and warplanes, which killed at least 6 people and injured several others including children, and the death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in a critical situation.”

Halab News named the civilians killed in Al Bab and reported it was a result of artillery shelling. They did not attribute blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdel Qader Abboud al Najjar
Child male named by Halab News killed
Fadel Hassan al Sha’abo
Age unknown male named by Halab News killed
The son of Hassan al Sha’abo
Age unknown male named by Halab News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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 city of Al Bab (مدينة 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 – 6
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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

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

CS300 TS002

Incident date

August 28, 2016

Location

جب الكوسا, Jeb el Kussa, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.688187, 37.996683 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twenty people were reported killed and 50 injured after clashes at Jeb el Kussa, south of Jarabulus.

According to Al Alam “these people fell during battles between militants and extremist groups backed by Turkey and the so-called “democratic forces of Syria” and armed groups backed by America.

The Syrian Observatory confirmed casualties in the ranks of the local fighters backed by the Turks in the region.” Russia Today, citing the Syrian Foreign Ministy, said those who died were civilians but blamed “air and artillery weapons of the Turkish army in coordination with armed groups.”

Most media blamed Turkey. However local Free Syrian Army factions accused both Turkey and the US-led Coalition of “deliberate raids by warplanes on al Sreirat and Bu’r al Koussa committing brutal massacres against the unarmed civilians of the elders and women and children killed tens of martyrs and the wounded.”

Ara news: “Syrian Kurds have accused Turkish troops of committing a massacre against civilians in the villages of Jeb al-Kousa and Megher-Sresat, south of Jarabulus. According to human rights organisations, at least 20 Arab civilians were killed and 50 injured under Turkish bombardment.

In their May 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

Family members

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Jeb el Kussa (جب الكوسا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.688187, 37.996683. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDA103607
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020

  • Aug. 28, 2016, in Jeb el Kussa, Syria via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3033/CS300 37SDA103607

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 23rd-24th, the Coalition reported that "Near Manbij, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 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
    20
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]