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

TS591

Incident date

April 24, 2023

Location

عين العبد, Ain Al Abd, Al Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.716568, 40.445092 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two young girls and a boy were killed and two other children were injured, all of which were from the same family, by alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Ain al-Abd on April 24, 2023.

Hawar News reported that two young sisters were killed and two young brothers and a sister were injured by intense Turkish shelling of the village of Ain al-Abd at 18:00. Hawar added that the injured were taken to Martyr Legrin Hospital in Tal Tamr for treatment.

Hawar News also provided the names of the children killed and injured: Maryam Khader Aweys (10 years old) and Etidal Aweys (9 years old) were both killed, Abdul Aziz, Diaa and Zahra Khader Aweys were injured.

Just hours later, Hawar News reported that one of the children, Abdul Aziz age 8, died from the severe injuries he sustained in the shelling.

Journalist Abbas Abbas reported that the bombing also resulted in extensive damage to property, and fear among civilians living in the affected areas.

All of the sources attributed the shelling to Turkey.

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

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Maryam Khader Aweys
10 years old female killed
Etidal Aweys
9 years old female killed
Abdul Aziz Aweys
8 years old killed
Diaa Aweys
6 years old injured
Zahra Khader Aweys
14 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic images of the children injured by alleged Turkish shelling of he village of Ain al-Abd on April 24, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic images of the children killed and injured by alleged Turkish shelling of he village of Ain al-Abd on April 24, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ain Al Abd (عين العبد), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.716568, 40.445092. 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
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS621

Incident date

August 8, 2023

Location

قرية الشركة, Al-Shirka village, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 8 August 2023, a woman and two children were killed, and three others, two children and their mother, all from the same family, were reportedly injured by Turkish shelling on their house in the village of Al-Shirka located in the eastern countryside of Ain Issa.

According to ANF, 60 year-old grandmother Doza, 10 year old Heba and 3 year-old Abdullah from the Ismail al–Hadi al-Khalawi family were killed. Whilst, 12-year old Malak, 5 year-old Tahani and their mother 25 year-old Haya Omar were reportedly transferred to hospitals in Raqqa with injuries.

Hawar News added that the bombardment occurred in the village of Al-Shirka south of the M4 international road.

This version of events was reported by a series of sources including the Fox Press, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, Hawarnews and local facebook posts, all conforming to the narrative provided by ANF.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Doza
60 years old female from Ismail al-Hadi al-Khalawi family killed
Heba al-Khalawi
10 years old from Ismail al-Hadi al-Khalawi family killed
Abdullah
3 years old from Ismail al-Hadi al-Khalawi family killed
Malak
12 years old from Ismail al-Hadi al-Khalawi family injured
Tahani
5 years old from Ismail al-Hadi al-Khalawi family injured
Haya Omar
25 years old female from Ismail al-Hadi al-Khalawi family injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • 3 citizens were killed and 3 others from one family were wounded; as a result of the Turkish bombardment of their village, Al-Shirka, in the eastern countryside of Ain Issa.
  • Blood from the victims of the alleged Turkish shelling on August 8, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

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
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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

TI101

Incident date

December 28, 2023

Location

قرية كاركي, Karki, Sinjar District, Mosul Province, Iraq

Airwars assessment

Between 6 and 8 PM on Thursday, December 28th, 2023, at least five people were killed and two others injured after an alleged Turkish drone strike on the village of Karki in the Sinjar district of Mosul province. The civilian status of five of the men killed is contested within the sources.

Those killed were young men, originally from northern and eastern Syria; information on the wounded was not made available. Roj News, in conjunction with the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Shingal District identified the deceased as follows: 21-year-old Ramadan al-Hammadi, originally from Raqqa; 24-year-old Shaheen Ali, from Kobani; 20-year-old Hussein al-Hussein, also from Raqqa; 23-year-old Ahmed al-Mohammed al-Ali, from Raqqa; and Raqqa-born Munir al-Bakour. al-Bakour’s age was not publicly declared.

There remains dispute regarding the circumstances of the strike. While the local administration in Sinjar reported those killed were working digging wells to provide water for the villages of Kora Samukiya, Al-Arbay News stated that the bombing was a deliberate strike targeting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. Al-Araby claimed their source, members of Nineveh security, as saying the strike targeted “a group of Labor Party activists.” Al-Arbay also specified that the local Sinjar administration is “known for its association” with the PKK.

Haider Sheshu, a commander of local militia Ezidkhan Protection Units, stated that he was unsure “whether the dead were fighters or civilians.”

Roj News reported the belligerent bombed the area three consecutive times. All of the sources attributed the drone strikes to Turkish forces.

The incident occured between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Water station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (0–5 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–5

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Source: Roj News
  • Source: Roj News
  • Source: Roj News
  • Source: Roj News
  • Source: Hawar News
  • Source: Hawar News
  • Source: Hawar News

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
    Water station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (0–5 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–5

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS165

Incident date

February 8, 2018

Location

ماسكا, Maska, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.648611, 36.678889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local reports, up to 4 civilians were injured followed an alleged Turkish air strike on Maska.

Kurdhr indicated that the Turkish air force targeted the village of Maskah in the Jundair district of Jandairis with two air raids, injuring more than 4 civilians.

Rumaf reported that many civilians were wounded in the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 Maska, Aleppo (ماسكا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.648611, 36.678889. 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
    4
  • 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

TS197

Incident date

February 14, 2018

Location

قرية بيكه، عفرين, Beeka village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.767778, 36.816944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Rumaf sent a private report to Airwars alleging that that two civilians were wounded in Turkish shelling of Beeka village. 

Amina Rasheed Sidou, aged 42, from the village of Bibaku in the town of Bulbulah, expressed her deep anger over the targeting of the village by the Turkish occupation army. She confirmed that she did not give up her village and would not give up. But it will not allow Erdogan and his allies to seize one piece of the territory of the province.

Please note that the private report alleged that the civilians were injured on the 15th, however the other sources reported they were injured on the 14th. There are no other details regarding this at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amina Rashid Seedo al Omar
42 years old female hit in the back with shrapnel injured
Naima Rashid Seedo al Omar
58 years old female hit in the face with shrapnel injured

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of Naima Rashid Seedo al Omar, injured followed an alleged Turkish shelling of Beeka village, 14th/15th February 2018. (via: jin news)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Beeka village, Afrin (قرية بيكه، عفرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.767778, 36.816944. 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
    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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS261

Incident date

March 10, 2018

Location

عنابكي, A'nabki, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.515724, 36.952900 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to two local sources, two civilians were wounded followed an alleged Turkish shelling on the village Annabeki, part of Shara East of Afrin, Syria.

Afrin Qalb Al-Hadath, identified the two males civilians who were injured in the incident, accusing the Turkish military of the shelling.

Xeber24 also named the two victims.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed al-Issa
Age unknown male via Afrin Qalb Al-Hadath injured
Ahmad al-Khalif
Age unknown male via Afrin Qalb Al-Hadath injured

Summary

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

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A picture shows one of the victims, injured followed an alleged Turkish shelling on A'nabki, Afrin 10th March 2018. (via: Afrin Qalb Al-Hadath)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows one civilian being treated at the medical centre followed an alleged Turkish shelling on Afrin Qalb Al-Hadath, 10th March 2018. (via: Afrin Qalb Al-Hadath)
  • A picture shows a mortar bomb that landed in the street in Afrin Qalb Al-Hadath, 10th march 2018. (via: Afrin Qalb Al-Hadath)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on in Afrin Qalb Al-Hadath, 10th march 2018. (via Afrin Qalb Al-Hadath)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of A’nabki, Afrin (عنابكي), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.515724, 36.952900. 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
    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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS304

Incident date

October 10, 2019

Location

Qamishli: Qidurbek, Hasaka, Syria

Geolocation

37.061667, 41.234444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians including a child and a woman died in an alleged Turkish forces airstrike on Qidurbek neighbourhood in Qamishli – Hasaka governorate on October 10th 2019, accoridng to local sources.

Smart News said that two civilians “were injured in Turkish artillery shelling on Qidurbek neighbourhood in al-Qamishli city of Hasaka.”

ANHA reported that Beşir Mihemed Kebûş was killed and her son Ehmed Abdullah lost his foot as a result of the airstrike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Beşir Mihemed Kebûş
Adult female killed
Ehmed Abdullah
Child male injured

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Abu Rana
Age unknown killed
Mohammad Yusuf Hussein
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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

TS306C

Incident date

October 10, 2019

Location

علي باجلية, Baciliye/El-Elî Baciliye, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.543846, 38.984213 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were reported killed and four others injured in an alleged Turkish forces airstrike on Baciliye village in Tal Abyad on October 10th 2019, according to local media sources.

@PLisboaab said the attack occurred at 18:50 local time.

The incident occured at 18:50:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Baciliye/El-Elî Baciliye (علي باجلية), for which the generic coordinates for are: 36.543846, 38.984213. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]