Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

An internally displaced Kurdish family in northern Iraq, 2016 (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
Turkish Military
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

TS654

Incident date

October 26, 2023

Location

قرية الربيعية, Al-Rabiya village west of Hama, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

At least five identified civilians, including two women and two children, were killed and between two and five civilians were injured in a drone strike on the Al-Rabiya village of Hama countryside in central Syria, declared by Al-Fateh Al-Mubin, a militia affiliated and supported by the Turkish military, during the evening of Thursday, October 26, 2023.

SANA News referring to the Hama Police Command reported that three people were killed and two injured in that attack. The Syrian Ministry of Defense alleged that three people were killed and two others were injured while Sputnik reported the injured were three, and RT counted only two.

The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights reported the highest death toll –  four citizens killed, including two women, and that the five injured were all from the same family. SOHR added that there was a state of terror and panic that struck the residents of the area. The victims were transported to the Hama National Hospital for treatment.

Social media posts helped to identify six victims of the deadly attack. According to the Syria news network, the strike killed a soldier, Lieutenant Sharaf Muhammad Ali Muhammad alongside the civilians named as Amna Ibrahim Asaad, the little girl Hala Kamel Al-Ali, and a girl Maryam Habib Al-Ali.  Hama branch Facebook account also mentioned Ayman Ali Al-Muhammad and Aya Al-Ahmad among the killed, noting that their bodies arrived at the National Hospital in Hama. Mesyaf news reported about Ayman Ali Al-Muhammad, Amna, Hala and Maryam.

Maryam Habib Al-Ali was a ninth grade student with long straight hair, fair skin and brown eyes. A photo of her was posted while wearing a green bracelet and a red t-shirt with a white stripe on both shoulders. The other girl, Hala Kamel Al-Ali, was a baby with fair skin and brown eyes, a photo of her was posted where she is dressed with a yellow knitted cap and green pijama with print.

The Fox Press Facebook account reported that “the drone took off from the areas of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the pro-Turkey factions, and flew over the airspace of the city of Suqaylabiyah before heading to the town of Al-Rabiah, while ground anti-aircraft guns tried to confront it in the skies of the region without being able to shoot it down.”

The Military monitor media alluded to the death of the Syrian military soldier and also posted a photo of the ceremony where military corpses are gathered inside a room in the Hama National Hospital behind four coffins covered with the Syrian flag. Another picture show a soldier surrounded by his colleagues, giving a military salute to the coffin that was being loaded at the entrance of the hospital.

A procession was also held on October 27 from the hospital. Mesyaf News posted a photo of a man with a brown long tunic who was one step from a multitude of militaries, with his head bowed in front of a coffin covered with the Syrian flag and flowers. Another photo showed many men and a kid gathered around two men, one in front of the other. The first one giving a military salute to the other, while the other holds in his hands probably a folded flag.

According to Military monitor Facebook account and North Syria Live news, the Al-Fateh Al-Mubin militia carried out the drone attack. The Al-Fateh Al-Mubin militia declared the strike in a statement published by North Syria Live news: “Our mujahideen targeted the headquarters of Assad’s gangs in the town of Al-Rabiah, west of Hama, and direct hits were achieved among the enemy’s headquarters in response to targeting the city of Idlib.” However, no civilian casualties were mentioned in this statement.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Amna Ibrahim Asaad آمنة إبراهيم أسعد
Adult female killed
Aya Al-Ahmad آية الأحمد
Adult female killed
Hala Kamel Al-Ali هالة كامل العلي
Child female killed
Maryam Habib Al-Ali, مريم حبيب العلي
Child female killed
Ayman Ali Al-Muhammad أيمن علي المحمد
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Known target
    Assad regime
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Syria TV news
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Syria TV news
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Syria TV news
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Syria TV news
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Syria TV news
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Military monitor facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Military monitor facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: SYria news network facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Atef Anka facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mesyaf news facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mesyaf news facebook

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Turkish Military

Al-Fateh Al-Mubin: Our mujahideen targeted the headquarters of Assad’s gangs in the town of Al-Rabiah, west of Hama, and direct hits were achieved among the enemy’s headquarters in response to targeting the city of Idlib.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Known target
    Assad regime
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS006 CS364

Incident date

November 7, 2016

Location

قرية قباسين, Al Qabasin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.4376286, 37.5692885 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One named civilian male was reported by both Halab News Network and the Violations Documentation Centre as having been killed by ‘Coalition’ strikes or shelling at Al Qabasin, Syria.

However Turkish forces and their FSA allies may also have been responsible, according to other local reports. TR Diplomacy tweeted a map on the 7th, reporting that the Turkish military were fighting just north of al-Qabasin at the time of this incident.

The US-led alliance later denied responsibility for the event, noting: “After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.”

There are no other known details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A map issued by the Turkish military November 7th showing its forces to be fighting just north of al-Qabasin. (via TR Diplomacy)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Qabasin (قرية قباسين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.4376286, 37.5692885. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

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
  • Stated location
    near Qabasin, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For November 6th-7th, the Coalition reported no strikes near Raqqa, but reported “Near Ayn Isa, 16 strikes engaged 12 ISIL tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, five vehicles, two VBIEDs, and a communications node”

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

TS037 RS1814

Incident date

January 1, 2017

Location

تادف, Tadef, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.34857, 37.531501 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and 11 civilians were reported killed in alleged air and artillery shelling on Tedef. Sources are conflicted as to who was to blame. According to Syrianewsdesk however, “the shelling on Tadef killed eight people, including five civilians and others belonging to the organisation (Turkish armed forces)”. Between six and ten civilians were wounded in the raid. Only two sources blamed Russian warplanes including LCCSY and Kawakibi Human Rights Organisation. Many others blamed the Syrian regime for the shelling and the rest have attributed blame to Turkey. 

Ara News gave the lowest death count: “Turkish artillery targeted residential areas in Tedef which killed a civilian and injured eight others”.

Jisr TV accused the Syrian regime of the attack, saying that “five civilians were killed and wounded in a massacre by the regime in the town of Tedef, Aleppo.”

Abass2233 posted on Twitter that “five civilians were killed and others injured as a result of artillery shelling from the Euphrates Shield forces targeting the town of Tedef in the eastern Aleppo countryside.”

LCCSY reported 11 people were killed and blamed Russia for the attack.

According to sources, wounded civilians were transported to medical facilities following the raid. Additionally, it was made clear by sources on the ground that some of the wounded were critically so.

Syrianewsdesk specified that as many as 50 shells were dropped on Tedef, with 10 of them targeting residential housing on the outskirts of the town.

The incident occured at 14:15:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Karim Kenan
Age unknown male killed
Omar Hamsho
Age unknown male killed
Yousef Abdul Qadir Al - Sheikh
Age unknown male killed
Son of Ahmed Yousef Hamsho
Age unknown male killed
Son of Mohammed Yousef Hamsho
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 11
  • (5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Report on the five civilians killed and others wounded in the town of Tadef, Aleppo due to alleged alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime raids. (via JisirTV)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime airstrike in Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Kawakibi Human Rights Organisation Documentation)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition, Syrian regime and Russian airstrike in Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Kawakibi Human Rights Organisation)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim of the alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime raid on Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Abo Alforat)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured victim of the alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime raid on Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Abo Alforat)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tadef, Aleppo (تادف), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.34857, 37.531501. 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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 11
  • (5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS093

Incident date

September 1, 2017

Location

كفر لوسين, Kafr Luseen, Turkish-Syrian borders, Syria

Geolocation

36.256667, 36.716111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Step News Agency, reported that “a child was wounded by bullets fired by the Turkish army is in the camp of Zahra_Gulf in the area of Kafr Luseen on the border with Turkey and was transferred to a nearby hospital.”

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 Kafr Luseen, Turkish-Syrian borders ( كفر لوسين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.256667, 36.716111. 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
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI041

Incident date

June 25, 2020

Location

كونه ماسي , Kunamasi, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Geolocation

35.796455, 45.415773 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

35.796413, 45.412799 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

§§Five or six civilians were allegedly injured by a Turkish airstrike on Kunamasi.

Rebaz Majeed tweeted: “The Turkish drones hit a vehicle half an hour ago, belonging to PKK members, in Slemani Province’s Kuna Masi. They also hit a mini market belonging to a local family. 2 are dead and more than 5 are injured and there are children among them.”

Adem Uzun wrote: “2 killed and 6 wounded (2 women, 2 children and 2 men, all members of the same family).”

One of the injured, Payman Thalib Thaher, a mother of two, had one leg amputated while the other was broken.

Rudaw also reported six injured and one man killed of which the outlet could not say if he was a civilian or combatant.

Hana Çômanî said: “People who have been killed ,injured today in #kunamasi they weren’t #PKK they were civilians(3children 8 their mother ,also a woman who was working on her farm)”

Yousif al-Hashimi described the man killed as “armed”. Barzan Saqiq said at least four PKK fighters were killed in the event.

KirkukNow and Hedwih Kuijpers said it was drone strike.

The incident occured at approximately 5:40 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult female Her leg was amputated injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child allegedly injured by Turkish airstrike on Kunamasi on June 25th, 2020 (via Adem Uzun)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention strikes on a vehicle and a mini market in the village of Kunamasi (كونه ماسي). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we were able to narrow down the location to the following coordinates: 35.796455, 45.415773 (the mini market) and 35.796413, 45.412799 (the vehicle).

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  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Kurdistan24

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Kurdistan24

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    @Arahemn1

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS508

Incident date

May 17, 2022

Location

قرية قرطاج, Qartage village, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.388201, 38.862774 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians, four children and a woman, were injured in alleged Turkish artillery shelling of the village of Qartage in Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022.

Hawar News documented the names of the woman and the four children that were injured in the Turkish artillery shelling on Qartage farm south of Ain Issa. The woman’s name is Na’aima al-Mudhi and her children are Katala Ali al-Hamoud (6 years old), Manhal Ali al-Hamoud (9 years old), A’azra Ali Al-Hamoud (10 years old) and Hayel Ali al-Hamoud (12 years old).

A medical source from the National Hospital in Raqqa told North Press Agency that “one of the children was diagnosed with Hemiplegia, a condition caused by brain damage or spinal cord injury that leads to paralysis on one side of the body”. Muhammad al-Ayed, a neurosurgeon at the Raqqa National Hospital, said that the 13-year-old child, Hayel Muhammad, was hit by a shrapnel that entered his back and ended in his abdomen, causing him to lose the ability to walk. Although it has been removed by surgery, it caused significant damage to the child’s spine. The other civilians injured, the children and their mother, are in stable condition.

Hawar News’ correspondent added that “the mother and her children were nomads, and they were in their tent near a Russian base”. All of the injured members of the family “were transferred to the dispensary of the town of Tal al-Samn, south of the district, and as a result of the severe and critical injuries, they were transferred again to National Hospital in the city of Raqqa”.

Arna Hammoud, 50, the aunt of the injured children, told North Press Agency that the Turkish shelling hit the tents that they had taken as homes and that the family had been working as shepherds and had been living in the tent that was shelled for a week. “The Turkish shelling directly targeted our tents; we tried to escape but my brother’s family was injured anyway” she said.

North Press Agency reported that in addition to the bombing that resulted in wounded civilians, Turkish forces bombed several villages,  Al-Shirkarak, Mulaq, Jabal, Fatsa, Skairo, Ain Issa camp and the international road “M4”, in the countryside of Ain Issa with heavy weapons, mortar and artillery shells. The bombings also caused material damage to the property of residents.

The village that housed the injured family, Qartage, is located 5km away from Ain Issa and hosts dozens of IDPs from Tel Abyad, according to North Press Agency.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkey and North Press Agency specifically identified the source of the bombing to be the Turkish bases in the adjacent villages, inside Syrian territory.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

35 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • “#SOHR camera” captures artillery fire by Turkish forces on areas in #Ain_Issa district, the capital of the Autonomous Administration in the northern countryside of #Al_Raqqah
  • Family in Raqqa National Hospital after they were hit by a Turkish shelling on Ain Issa – North Press
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. (Image posted by SDF Press Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. (Image posted by SDF Press Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. (Image posted by SDF Press Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. (Image posted by SDF Press Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. (Image posted by SDF Press Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. (Image posted by SDF Press Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. (Image posted by SDF Press Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. (Image posted by SDF Press Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. (Image posted by SDF Press Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. (Image posted by SDF Press Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. (Image posted by SDF Press Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. (Image posted by SDF Press Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. (Image posted by SDF Press Center)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. (Image posted by SDF Press Center)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Qartage (قرية قرطاج), allegedly located south of Ain Issa (عين عيسى‎) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Ain Issa are: 36.388201, 38.862774.

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
    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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS534

Incident date

July 26, 2022

Location

قرية صيدا, Seyda village, Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.392991, 38.862918 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and one civilian was injured as a result of an attack on July 26th 2022 by an alleged Turkish drone strike struck Seyda village, in the Ain Isa district, Raqqa, Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the drone hit a car with a missile.

Hawar News reported that the civilians injured were Ali Khalil Omar, aged 20, and Ahmed Al-Khidir, aged 21. Al-Khidir was reported to have been critically injured and transferred to Al-Raqqa hospitals for treatment. ANHA and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights later reported that he died of the wounds that he sustained in this attack the day after.

Omar was taken to Omar Alloush Hospital in the Ain Issa district centre and his condition was reported as stable.

The correspondent for Hawar News added that the drone strike occurred “in front of the “Trad” gas station on the international road at the northern entrance to the Ain Issa district”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Khalil Omar علي خليل
20 years old male injured
Ahmed Al-Khidir أحمد الخضر
21 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ali Khalil Omar, aged 20, was injured and Ahmed Al Khidir, aged 21, was killed after an alleged Turkish drone strike hit the Ain Issa area on July 26th 2022 (Image via ANHA English / Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Trad Al Hamid Petrol Station (محطة طراد الحميد للمحروقات), within the village of Seyda (قرية صيدا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.392991, 38.862918. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Seyda are: 36.401948, 38.864291.

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS483b

Incident date

January 8, 2022

Location

Koltepe village, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes or drone strikes on Koltepe village and the surrounding villages on January 8, 2022.

According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, in total one civilian was killed and 12 other civilians, including women and children, were wounded in incidents across Kobani. The injuries varied in severity and were taken to Kobani hospital for treatment.

Hawar News reported the name of the civilian injured in Koltepe village: Jihan Mulla Osman Saleh (25 years old), Koltepe village.

The villages that were affected by the Turkish bombing were the villages of Tal Hajib, Qarmog, Goran, Khani, Sarzuri and Koltepe, located east of Kobani on the border with Turkey.

The General Council of the Democratic Union Party issued a written statement: “In a new test for the international community and the United Nations, the Turkish regime violated international principles and laws and targeted civilians in the center of Kobani city this morning, Saturday, with (drones) and heavy weapons, and its indiscriminate bombing resulted in martyrs and wounded civilians and extensive damage to their property.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Jihan Mulla Osman Saleh
25 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • The villages of Qere Mox, Khani, Tel Hajjab and Alishar in eastern Kobani canton on the border with Turkey were being bombed on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • The villages of Qere Mox, Khani, Tel Hajjab and Alishar in eastern Kobani canton on the border with Turkey were being bombed on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • The villages of Qere Mox, Khani, Tel Hajjab and Alishar in eastern Kobani canton on the border with Turkey were being bombed on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage from alleged Turkish shelling on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Kassioun)
  • Damage from alleged Turkish shelling on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Kassioun)

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
    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 (7) [ collapse]