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

TS474

Incident date

September 17, 2021

Location

الدبس, Al Dabas, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.45705, 38.762341 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least four civilians, including a child, were killed and up to three others were injured in alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Al Dabas on September 17, 2021.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), four people, including a child, were killed by Turkish missile shells while digging tunnels for the Syrian Democratic Forces in the village of Al Dabas. SOHR had originally reported that two people were killed and three people were injured but later updated their death toll.

In June this year, Al Monitor reported that trenches and tunnels for the Syrian Democratic Forces are dug by “civilians who receive a daily wage of $3 to $5 without medical insurance”.

North Press Agency reported that four civilians were killed in the strikes and according to a medical source, “Turkish forces’ drones targeted a car carrying four civilians heading towards the town of Ain Issa. The source added that the four civilians lost their lives immediately.”

Sputnik News also identified four civilians as being killed in intense Turkish bombardment and provided their names: Malik Al-Muharib Al-Hamid, 25 years old, Idan Hamad Al-Amiri, 40 years old, Hamad Al-Khunais Al-Jarbou’, 20 years old, and Khamis Al-Busaili, 17 years old.

Zaman Al Wasl provided information from the “Hawar” agency, a spokesman for the Democratic Union Party, that in addition to the four people that were killed, three others were injured.

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

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Malik Al-Muharib Al-Hamid مالك المحارب الحميد
25 years old killed
Idan Hamad Al-Amiri عيدان حمد العميري
40 years old killed
Hamad Al-Khunais Al-Jarbou’ حمد الخنيس الجربوع
20 years old killed
Khamis Al-Busaili خموس البصيلي
17 years old killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Dabas (الدبس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.45705, 38.762341. 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
    4
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS498

Incident date

April 6, 2022

Location

قرية الاسدية, Al Asadiya village, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.776363, 40.130898 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and five civilians, including up to four children and a woman, were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Al-Asadiya on April 6, 2022.

According to Hawar News, five people from one family were injured when Turkish forces bombed the village of Al-Asadiya in the countryside of Zarkan district. Records of the People’s Hospitals in Al-Darbasiyah district and Al-Hasakah city, which received the injured, reported the names of the injured from the Al-Zaher family: Mahmoud Al-Zahir (42 years old), Bara Mahmoud Al-Zaher (16 years old), Narges Mahmoud Al-Zaher (15 years old), and Shafak Mahmoud Al-Zaher (9 years old), and a relative of the family, Inas Ismail Al-Khalaf (17 years).

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the shelling was carried out by Turkish forces stationed in “Peace Spring” areas in Ras Al-Ain “Sere Kanye” countryside and resulted in the injury of three people, including a woman. The source added that the shelling coincided with residents of the area attempting to flee due to the heavy shelling and that the shelling struck civilians’ houses.

Various other sources, including North Press Agency and Ajansa Nûçeyan a Firate, reported that Turkish forces carried out shelling but did not provide any details on casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Mahmoud Al-Zahir محمود الظاهر
42 years old injured
Bara Mahmoud Al-Zaher براء محمود الظاهر
16 years old injured
Narges Mahmoud Al-Zaher نرجس محمود الظاهر
15 years old injured
Shafak Mahmoud Al-Zaher شفق محمود الظاهر
9 years old injured
Ismail Al-Khalaf إسماعيل الخلف
17 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
    3–5
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • One of the civilians injured in alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Al-Asadiya on April 6, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Shell from the alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Al-Asadiya on April 6, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage to civilian homes caused by alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Al-Asadiya on April 6, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage to civilian homes caused by alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Al-Asadiya on April 6, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage to civilian homes caused by alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Al-Asadiya on April 6, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage to civilian homes caused by alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Al-Asadiya on April 6, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage to civilian homes caused by alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Al-Asadiya on April 6, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage to civilian homes caused by alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Al-Asadiya on April 6, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the village of Al Asadiya (الاسدية), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.776363, 40.130898. 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
    3–5
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS523

Incident date

July 2, 2022

Location

جراد, Jarad, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.529705, 37.954159 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed after a Turkish missile shelling on Jarad village in the northern Manbij countryside, in the Aleppo region of Syria on July 2nd 2022.

ANHA reported that the civilian killed was Mohammed Khaled al-Mohammad, aged 23. A local source told North Press that “the young man, Muhammad Khalid Muhammad Ali (23), lost his life while working on his family’s farmland in his village of al-Jarad.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Khaled al-Mohammad
23 years old male

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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.

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mohammed Khaled al-Mohammed, aged 23, was reportedly killed by Turkish fire whilst working on his family's farmland outside Manbij city (Image via ANHA English)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Jarad (الجراد), allegedly located north Manbij (منبج) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Manbij are: 36.529705, 37.954159.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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.

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS551

Incident date

August 19, 2022

Location

النيربية, Al Nayribiyah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.374059, 37.377273 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An elderly woman was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Al Nayribiyah village on August 19, 2022.

Hawar News Agency reported that a woman and a child were injured as a result of Turkish forces bombing the villages of the countryside of Al-Shahba canton, including the villages of Karamel, Hassin, Ain Deqina and Baylouniyah, in addition to the center of Tel Rifaat district in al-Shahba canton. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights specified that the elderly woman in her 70s was injured in Al-Nayribiyah village. However, Lîlav Alî posted on Facebook that the woman injured, Khadija Shammo, is 55 years old.

According to Hawar News Agency, both victims of shelling in Al-Shahba (TS551 and TS552) were transferred to Afrin Hospital in the district of Favin for treatment.

.All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the attack to Turkey, with most referring to the bombing as being shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khadija Shammo
70 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Elderly woman injured by alleged Turkish strikes on al-Shahba canton on August 19, 2022. (Image posted byLîlav Alî via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Nayribiyah (), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.374059, 37.377273. 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
    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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS577

Incident date

December 10, 2022

Location

هيشان , Al Hishah, Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

36.35291, 39.01692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On December 10 2022, a civilian, a 61 years old man working on a agriculture field, was reportedly killed during Turkish strikes targeting villages located between Ain Issa district and Girê Spî (Tel Abyad) district, in Raqqah province. Turkish forces allegedly used light and heavy weapons.

The victim was described as “Saleh al-Ali al-Salama (61 years old), from the Albu Assaf clan”, from Al-Hawija village. Local sources added that the man “was martyred by shrapnel from a shell fired from the Turkish base in the village of Bir Issa while he was plowing his land”. Bir Issa is located 7km east of Al-Hisha town.  Saleh al-Ali al-Salama was reportedly “buried in Bir Saran cemetery”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Saleh al-Ali al-Salama صالح العلي السلامة
61 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Saleh al-Ali al-Salama (61 years old), a civilian working in his land, was allegedly killed by Turkish strikes on December 10th 2022. Photo: ANHA English

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Hishah (هيشان ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.35291, 39.01692. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS606

Incident date

June 27, 2023

Location

جورين, Jourin, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.616010, 36.269336 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured by shelling allegedly carried out by the factions of the “Al-Fateh Al-Mubin” operations room, a Turkish sponsored militia, in Jourin in the Al-Ghab Plain region on June 27, 2023.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that two civilians were injured to varying degrees by shrapnel from rocket shells launched by factions of the “Al-Fateh Al-Mubin” operations room. The source added that the wounded were taken to the hospital.

A tweet from @Click_Syria reported that two civilians sustained “minor” injuries from the shelling as well as causing material damages to homes and property.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jourin (جورين), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.616010, 36.269336. 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
    Single source claim
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS635

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Location

قرية جلبية/, M4 international road, 45km southeast from the city of Kobani, near Jalabiya (Kharab Ashk) village, Kobani, Syria

Airwars assessment

At 10:45 in the morning on Thursday, 5th October 2023, Turkish drone strikes allegedly killed two civilian men riding a motorcycle on the M4 international road, 45 km southeast from the city of Kobani, and injured up to two other civilians. According to the local sources, the incident happened near the village of Jalabiya (Kharab Ashk) in the countryside of Ayn Al-Arab (Kobani).

The deceased men have been named as Kilo Adbi from the village of Touqli and Hazouf (Horouf) Ali Rami Haval Bahuz. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that they were workers of the military fortification tunnels, riding a Turkish motorcycle. Local news agency Hawar News reported that two other civilians were wounded in the drone strike.

Birjav FM reported that their motorcycle was on the M4 international road, 45 km southeast from the city of Kobani. Facebook users such as Kobanê Warê Me posted images of the victims and the destroyed motorcycle, which lay scattered and burned on the ground.

Kilo Abdi, a middle-aged man with a moustache is seen in the images with his two small children.

Hazouf Ali Rami was remembered in a Facebook tribute by his wife’s brothers Rizan Hes Hamin and Juan Hes Hamin. They shared the images of the late Hazouf, a middle aged man with a moustache while doing some manual work and standing near a bonfire.

This incident was part of a series of drone strikes and bombings on the 5th October across northeastern Syria which targeted infrastructure, service facilities alongside gas and oil stations.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to the Turkish military.

The incident occured at 10:45:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Kilo Abdi كيلو عبدي
Adult male killed
Hazouf Ali Rami حزوف علي رمي
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Ware me facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Ware me facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani Ware me facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani News facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobani News facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: National Geographic Kobani facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: National Geographic Kobani facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rizan Hes Hamin facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Juan Hes Hamin 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
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS151

Incident date

February 2, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Rajo, Afrin, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.67296, 36.666364 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a report shared with Airwars, the Kurdish Red Crescent named nine male civilians as wounded in Rajo.

The weapons used have not been reported.

No further details are currently available.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

A’aref Hassan Ja’far
40 years old male Head injury injured
Abdullatif Ju’ma Ibrahim
32 years old male Suffocating and bruises injured
Ahmad Husni Abdo
37 years old male Suffocating and bruises injured
Malz Hassan
21 years old male Suffocating and bruises injured
Mohammed Alamo
22 years old male Suffocating and bruises injured
Mustafa Kamal Ma’mo
25 years old male Left leg amputated and right one broken injured
Ma’mo Jamo
24 years old male Bruises injured
Hanan Ahmad
40 years old male Dislocated shoulder injured
Dawood Qanbar
53 years old male Bruises on feet injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Rajo, Afrin, Aleppo (جنديرس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.67296, 36.666364. 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
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]