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

TS133

Incident date

January 28, 2018

Location

حج خليل, Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.678611, 36.683611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two or more civilians died in an alleged Turkish shelling of Haj Khalil village, according to local media. A number of sources referred to the event as “a horrific massacre”.

Rumaf reported that “children and elderly” were targeted in the attack.

According to Military Council for Manbij and surrounding area [SDF], which published graphic images of victims, “the army of the Turkish invasion committed a horrific massacre of civilians in the village of Haj Khalil in the area of Rajo after targeting the village this morning. This led to the death of a number of civilians and wounding others”.

According to the Smart News Agency, “the Media Center of the Syrian Democratic Forces, on its official website, said that a number of civilians were killed and wounded by shelling of the factions of the Free Army and Turkish forces on the village of Haj Khalil in Rajo district and on the side of Bulbul, without mentioning the number of victims or details of them.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Ahmad Baker
55 years old male killed
Mohammed Ahmed Bakr
66 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Mohammed Ahmed Bakr, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, 28th January 2018. (via Afrin Now)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualty, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, 28th January 2018. (via SDF)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mohammed Ahmed Bakr, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, 28th January 2018. (via SDF)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualty, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, 28th January 2018. (via SDF)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An elderly man injured in the alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, 28th January 2018. (via Rumaf)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man injured in the alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, 28th January 2018. (via Rumaf)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child injured in the alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, 28th January 2018. (via Rumaf)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualty, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, 28th January 2018. (via Military Council for Manbij)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualty, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, 28th January 2018. (via Military Council for Manbij)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualty, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, 28th January 2018. (via Military Council for Manbij)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Animals were killed in the alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, 28th January 2018. (via Afrin Now)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin (حج خليل), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.678611, 36.683611. 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
    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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS164

Incident date

February 8, 2018

Location

اشكا غابري, Ashka Gharbi village, Jandrissa, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.399444, 36.636667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to several sources, an unidentified number of civilians were wounded followed an alleged Turkish shelling on Ashka Gharbi village, Jandrissa, Afrin.

Afrin Now reported that in Syria the Turkish occupation army shelled the village of Ashka Gharbi of the Jundressa area in Afrin province with artillery. There were reports of civilian casualties and injuries caused by indiscriminate shelling.

On February 9th, The Military Council for Manbij and its countryside reported that at 6 pm yesterday, the village of Ashkan Gharbi was subjected to a very violent indiscriminate artillery bombardment causing civilian injuries.

The same video was used to document the shelling of Kafr Shila which injured three civilians, including two 10 year old boys and their mother. It is unclear to which incident it belongs. 

The incident occured at 18:00:00 local time.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A boy injured in "very violent indiscriminate artillery bombardment", by alleged Turkish shelling. 8th February 2018. (via SDF PRESS)
  • The sign at the village (which is made by the Kurdish people, not official Syrian regime sign) reads” Aska Rojava.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ashka Gharbi village, Jandrissa, Afrin (اشكا غابري), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.399444, 36.636667. 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
    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 (4) [ 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]