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

TS187

Incident date

February 12, 2018

Location

معبطلي, Ma'abatli village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.562634, 36.74562 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians were wounded in an alleged “Turkish bombardment of an olive oil factory”, according to Afrin Now. The victims were named by Afrin Now, Afrin Media Centre and Basnews.

According to PYD news, “the Turkish army bombed a factory for the olive industry in Moubata, ‘Maabtli’, which led to the injury of five workers in the factory, mostly displaced to Afrin.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Ahmed Jassem
20 years old male displaced from Abu Kamal injured
Hussein Mohammed Alo
32 years old male from Dumliya Village injured
Damhat Rashid Ali
21 years old from Dumliya Village injured
Jalal Ibrahim Sido
24 years old from the village of Abdana injured
Mohammed Ahmed Bahri
47 years old male from Sheikh Khutka injured
Muhammad Salloum Sharmuk
23 years old male Kafr Nasseh, Shrapnel in Mobata injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the wounded being treated in a medical facility in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrike on Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 12th February 2018. (via Afrin Now)
  • Wounded civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrike on Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 12th February 2018. (via IC Afrinresistance)
  • Wounded civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrike on Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 12th February 2018. (via IC Afrinresistance)
  • Wounded civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrike on Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 12th February 2018. (via IC Afrinresistance)
  • Wounded civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrike on Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 12th February 2018. (via IC Afrinresistance)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ma’abatli village, Afrin (معبطلي), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.562634, 36.74562. 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
    6
  • 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

TS219

Incident date

February 21, 2018

Location

عفرين, Afrin city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Rumaf reported that Turkey shelled the city centre of Afrin resulting in “many wounded.”

Alaraby reported that “Turkish warplanes bombed Kurdish militia positions in the Hikkah and Ankla hills north of Afrin, while artillery continued to bombard the positions of militias in various parts of the area” – though the source made no mention of civilian casualties.

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
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Afrin city (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
    3–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS294

Incident date

October 9, 2019

Location

Mabrouka IDP camp, Ras al-Ain, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.849574, 40.071603 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

@NPA_SY tweeted: that the SDF Press Office said  “a child lost his life in Mabrouka IDP camp, Ras al-Ain, due to the difficulty of moving him to hospital following Turkish indiscriminate shelling”.

Hawar news agency also reported the death of a child.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Mabrouka IDP camp, Ras al-Ain, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.849574, 40.071603. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

TS329

Incident date

October 12, 2019

Location

رأس العين, Ras al Ain, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.848579, 40.073576 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

@cmoc_sd  tweeted: “An innocent child does not know what a bullet is, hit by the Turkish army with artillery shells and warplanes in the villages of #SariKanye/ Ras al-ayn. She is now in Tal Tamir hospital receive treatment, her condition is critical.”

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ammar Abdullah Abdu عمار عبد الله عبده
11 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ras Al Ain (رأس العين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.848579, 40.073576. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

TS350a

Incident date

October 16, 2019

Location

المالحة, Al Malha, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.653065, 39.984999 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

@NPA_English tweeted: “A civilian woman from al-Malha village in the southern countryside of Ras al-Ain (Sere Kaniye) has arrived at Tal Tamr Hospital due to being shot by Turkey-backed armed militias”.

The Kurdish Red Crescent named the victim as Lamees Ali Assaf, a female aged 14 from Serekaniye”, adding that she was shot.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Lamees Ali Assaf
14 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Malha (المالحة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.653065, 39.984999. 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
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

Incident Code

TS336b

Incident date

November 13, 2019

Location

الحسكة, Hasaka, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported injured in different locations in Hasaka governorate on October 13th, 2019 according to the Kurdish Red Crescent, as a result of alleged Turkish forces attacks.

The civilians, a woman and two men, are originally from Terbesipiye, Til Kocher and Tel Hamees. No further details available at the moment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mirfet Ahmad
35 years old female Trauma injured
Hawas Ali al Hussen
28 years old male Broken leg injured
Abdulrahman Ahmad Hadi
45 years old male Head shot injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS373A

Incident date

October 28, 2019

Location

عين عيسى, Ayn Issa, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

According to the Kurdish Red Crescent, one civilian was reported injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Ayn Issa, Raqqa in Syria on October 28th, 2019.

The civilian was identified as Abdullah Mustafa Hussein, male, aged 37 and he was injured as a result of fragments.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullah Mustafa Hussein
37 years old male KRC injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or 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 (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or 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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS408

Incident date

February 3, 2020

Location

عقيبة, Aqiba, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.437500, 36.968333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that Turkish forces targeted villages in Afrin including Aqiba village during the night, leading to the death of one elderly civilian, an the injury of other civilians including his daughter, on February 3rd, 2020.

NPA Syria reported that “a Syrian civilian was killed and a woman was injured due to the Turkish forces shelling on the village of Aqiba in Sherawa district, south of the Syrian-Kurdish region of Afrin.”, and that “67-year-old Ali Malla lost his life, and his daughter Zainab was wounded after their house was targeted by the Turkish military and its affiliated armed opposition groups’ bombardment on February 3rd, 2020.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

67 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Turkish shelling on Afrin, Syria on February 3rd, 2020 (via Raperinagel9).
  • Aftermath of alleged Turkish shelling on villages in Afrin, Syria on February 3rd, 2020 (via NPASyria).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ali Malla, 67, was reported killed by alleged Turkish shelling on Aqiba village in Afrin, Syria on February 3rd, 2020 (via Rojavanetwork).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Aqiba (عقيبة) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.437500, 36.968333. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]