Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident Code

TS094

Incident date

January 13, 2018

Location

عفرين, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.511389, 36.864167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured in an alleged Turkish artillery raid on Afrin. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that an alleged Turkish shelling on Afrin “injured two citizens. One of them is a child. Additionally, a fighter of YPG was killed in the shelling.” There are no reports of civilian casualties.

RT and Bas News reported that the village was under Kurdish protection at the time of the airstrike. Further to this, it was reported that the shelling occoured for no less than two hours, causing much material damage.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

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 (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Afrin (عفرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.511389, 36.864167. 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS158

Incident date

February 4, 2018

Location

بلبلة, Bulbul, Afrin, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.770899, 36.818318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a private report, the Kurdish Red Crescent listed one civilian was wounded followed an alleged Turkish shelling of Bulbul, Syria.

The type of weapon is unknown.

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fa’iq Abdulrahman Rasho
60 years old injury to the face injured

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 town of Bulbul, Afrin, Aleppo (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
    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

TS189

Incident date

February 12, 2018

Location

هيكجة, Heikja, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5232944, 36.6012955 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Afrin Now reported the injury of one civilian, “Hussein Suleiman, 37 years old, from the village of Heikja, Shih district” in an alleged Turkish shelling near his home in Heikja village.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Suleiman
37 years old male injured

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 subdistrict of Heikja, Afrin (هيكجة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.5232944, 36.6012955. 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

TS289

Incident date

May 25, 2019

Location

برج القاص , Burj al-Qas, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.366537, 36.940520 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A young woman was injured in alleged Turkish artillery fire on Burj al-Qas in Şêrawa.

ANHA reported: “On the other hand, sources told our agency that the Turkish occupation army fired indiscriminately at the village of Birj al-Qas in the area of ​​Sherawa, wounding the young woman Manar Ali Nassero. The source confirmed that her health condition is stable.”

ANF quoted the ANHA report.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Manar Ali Nassero
Adult male injured

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Burj al-Qas ( برج القاص ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.366537, 36.940520. 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
    1
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS323

Incident date

October 12, 2019

Location

Salihiye, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.692838, 40.229874 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two medical staff of the Kurdish Red Crescent (KRC) were reported wounded when alleged Turkish airstrikes struck a KRC medical centre in a school in Salhiya, sources on the ground said.

@NPA_SY reported: “Turkish air strikes hit a Kurdish Red Crescent medical center in a school in the village of Salhiya, southeastern countryside of Ras Al-Ain, Saturday morning. Some media staff were injured.”

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported: “Around 7- 7:15 am the Trauma Stabilization Point (TSP) set up by KRC in Salihiye village, south of Ras Al Ain, has been hit by what we believe was an airstrike. The TSP was temporarily placed there to support injured persons, 15 minutes away from the front line of RAA. Two KRC staff were injured. Four patients where inside of the TSP but they were not further injured and the staff referred them to Tel Tamer hospital. Two ambulances have been damaged. Both them and staff were clearly displaying KRC logo. KRC staff on the ground report that the airstrike was not nearby but believed they were directly targeted. As a result, the two ambulances were out of the services and the driver and the paramedic were injured. ”

Amnesty International collected an on the ground account from a Kurdish Red Crescent worker, who described how he pulled bodies from the wreckage around 7.00 AM. According to source, two munitions landed near a school, where displaced civilians had sought shelter. He also stated that the nearest frontline was more than 1 km away.

“Everything happened so fast. In total, there were six injured and four killed, including two children. I couldn’t tell if they were boys or girls because their corpses were black. They looked like charcoal. The other two people killed were older men, they looked older than 50. Honestly, I am still in shock”, he stated.

The incident occured at approximately 7:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Mahjoub Sa'ud Hsso
Age unknown male injured
Dldar Abdulkarim Dawood
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Salhiye, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.692838, 40.229874. 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 infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS298A

Incident date

October 9, 2019

Location

حي جرنك, Jarnak Neighbourhood, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.069109, 41.269342 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, named as Akram Yousef, was reported killed in an alleged Turkish forces airstrike or artillery strike on Hai Jarnak in Qamishli city, on October 9th, 2019 according to local media sources.

Sources said that he was married with three children.

 

The incident occured between 12:00 am and 2:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Akram Yousef, reported killed in an alleged Turkish strike on Hai Jarnak in Qamishli. October 9th, 2019 (via Jesr Press)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Jarnak neighbourhood (حي جرنك) in Qamishli city (القامشلي‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Jarnak are: 37.069109, 41.269342.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Jarnak neighbourhood (حي جرنك) in Qamishli city (القامشلي‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    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 attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS377

Incident date

October 31, 2019

Location

تالوارد, Tal Ward, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.798839, 40.341969 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and five others injured in an alleged attack by Turkey-backed militants on Tal Ward in Zirgan town – Ras Al Ain in Hasaka governorate, on October 31st, 2019, according to local sources.

@Raman_Hassi reported that Ibrahim Mohammed Khalaf (60) and his wife Tofaha Ali Saleh (55) were both killed in the attack. One of their relatives, Mehmud Mihemed Khalaf, was also killed, according to ANF. Sources reported five other people were wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

60 years old male husband of Tofaha Ali Saleh killed
55 years old female wife of Ibrahim Mohammed Khalaf killed
38 years old male killed

The victims were named as:

40 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tofaha Ali Saleh was killed in an alleged artillery attack by Turkey-backed militants on Tal Ward - Hasaka on October 31st 2019 (via @Gasteci_Eskin)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ibrahim Mohammed Khalaf was killed together with his wife Tofaha Ali Saleh in alleged Turkish shelling on the town of Tal Ward on October 31st, 2019 (via @Raman_Hassi).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tofaha Ali Saleh was killed together with her husband Ibrahim Mohammed Khalaf in alleged Turkish shelling on the town of Tal Ward on October 31st, 2019 (via @Raman_Hassi).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal Ward (تالوارد), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.798839, 40.341969. 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

Free Syrian Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Free Syrian Army
  • Free Syrian Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • 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 attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS389

Incident date

November 9, 2019

Location

أم الشعفة, Um Shuayfa, Hasaka, Syria

Geolocation

36.747222, 40.353333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three journalists were reported injured as a result of an alleged Turkish artillery attack on the village of Um Shuayfa, north of the city of Tal Tamr, on November 9th, 2019 according to local sources.

The journalist reported injured is Fadel Hammad, a reporter for the al-Akhbariya TV channel, and he was injured in the foot.

NPA added that there were also “four injuries among Syrian government forces”.

Snacksyria added that two other journalists – Walid Ibrahim and Muhammad Al-Khaled – were wounded by shrapnel.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Walid Ibrahim
Age unknown male injured
Fadel Hammad
Age unknown male injured
Muhammad Al-Khaled
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported injured
    4

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • KRC list of civilians killed and injured between 09 October and 14 November 2019.

  • The aftermath of the alleged Turkish strike (via SANA)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Turkish strike (via SANA)
  • The aftermath of the alleged Turkish strike (via SANA)
  • Translation: " Syrian news photographer was injured by a bullet in the leg during his coverage of the Syrian Arab Army's clashes with the Turkish occupation and his mercenaries in the village of Um Shuaifa in the countryside"

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Um Shuayfa (أم شعيفة), for which the coordinates are: 36.747222, 40.353333. 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
    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
  • Belligerents reported injured
    4

Sources (9) [ collapse]