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

TS595

Incident date

May 17, 2023

Location

مخيم عين عيسى, Ain Issa camp, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.400501, 38.849306 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Ain Issa camp on May 17, 2023.

Hawar News reported that during the second incident in Ain Issa district on May 17th, two civilians were injured when Turkish forces bombarded Ain Issa camp. Correspondents for Hawar added that the shelling caused an outbreak of fire in the camp, and firefighting teams could not reach the scene to put out the fire due to continuous shelling. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that both civilians injured were taken to the hospital to receive treatment, and an image posted by Hawar News shows two men being treated for injuries.

Ronahi TV provided the names of the injured: Muhammad Al-Balikh and Mahmoud Al-Jassem.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkey.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Al-Balikh محمد البليخ
Age unknown male injured
Mahmoud Al-Jassem محمود الجاسم
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victims of alleged Turkish shelling of Ain Issa camp on May 17, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Ain Issa Camp (مخيم عين عيسى) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.400501, 38.849306. 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 infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS627

Incident date

September 5, 2023

Location

قرية الحويجة, Al-Hawija village, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

A male civilian was injured in a bombing suspected to have been carried out by the Turkish military during the night of September 5, 2023 in Al-Hawija village in Ain Issa district. A Hawar News correspondent named the injured civilian as 23 year old Khalil Ibrahim Al-Hamad who was taken to the National Hospital in Raqqa for treatment; it is unclear what injuries he sustained in the attack.

Several homes were damaged in the attack. Images shared by Hogir Necar were taken during the night with reduced visibility but show the resulting damage in three different locations, including a hole in an external residential building the size of a doorway, and rubble scattered on the street from another location damaged by the bombing. Hawar News discussed this bombing attack alongside a further context of recent use of “machine guns and heavy weapons” in the area by the Turkish Army.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalil Ibrahim Al-Hamad
23 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling in Ain Issa district on September 5, 2023. (Image posted by Hogir necar via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling in Ain Issa district on September 5, 2023. (Image posted by Hogir necar via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling in Ain Issa district on September 5, 2023. (Image posted by Hogir necar via Facebook)

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
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • 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

TS021

Incident date

December 12, 2016

Location

البزاعة, Al Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3829071, 37.56666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians from one family were reported killed as a result of Turkish artillery shelling in Al Baza’a, according to a single source.

The ISIS propaganda outlet Al A’amaq wrote: “a family of five killed following Turkish shelling on Baza’a near al Bab northeast of Aleppo.”

There are no other known details available at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • 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 Al Baza’a (البزاعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.3829071, 37.56666. 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
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS064

Incident date

January 27, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight people were reportedly injured as a result of an alleged Turkish artillery shelling on Al Bab.

Al Bab News and the ISIS-affiliated outlet Al A’amaq said that most of the wounded were women and children.

There are currently no further details available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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
    8
  • 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

CS352 TS005f

Incident date

October 29, 2016

Location

الجطل, Al Jatal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5781778, 37.7233572 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one person was killed by alleged Coalition raids in the vicinity of al Jatal, according to sparse local reports. However a Turkish assault on the village was also reported at the time.

Halab News named one male victim who it also said was a victim of “coalition raids.”

The only other specific report was from a Twitter user named Samran al A’anzi, who said that 4 civilians died during “international coalition raids on Al Jatal.” Other reports indicated the Turkish army, or Turkish-backed forces, were operating in the area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim al A’roude
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • 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]

  • Local Islamists posted photographs they said showed 'the repelling of the storming by the apostate Turkish army on al Jatal village west of al Ghandoura town.' (via blog which has since been blocked)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Jatal (الجطل), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.5781778, 37.7233572. 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 Al A'rīma, 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
Official source

For October 23rd-24th, the Coalition reported no strikes in the area. For October 24th-25th, the Coalition reported “Near Mar’a, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two fighting positions, a mortar system, and a vehicle.”

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • 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

TS502

Incident date

April 22, 2022

Location

كوباني, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.889165, 38.353649 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Al-Shaheed Kawa neighborhood south of the city of Kobani on April 22, 2022.

North Press Agency reported that “A shell landed on houses in the Al-Shaheed Kawa neighborhood, south of the city. As a result, Farhad Muhammad Hassan (28 years) was wounded with shrapnel in the leg and back. Farhad Muhammad Hassan said, “A shell fell at ten in the morning on our house, while we were sitting.” He added, I was hit by two shrapnel in my leg and back, and I was taken to hospital. A medical source told North-Press, “The young man’s injury is moderate, and he has been discharged from the hospital, after receiving treatment, and his health condition is currently stable.”

The New Arab reported that Turkish drones carried out strikes on the city centre of Kobani and a nearby village, injuring two people overall, including another civilian injury documented in TS502a.

Kurdistan24 quoted Rojava Media Centre, which stated that Turkey’s “bombardment of Kobani city center with howitzers, civilians were injured and shops were burned” without specifying how many civilians were injured. Kurdistan24 also quoted Hawar News Agency, which identified four “artillery shells have hit the city so far,” adding that the shells “fell on 48th Street and Kaniya Kurda neighborhood in Kobani city.”

North Press Agency listed the locations that the four shells struck as Al-Shaheed Kawa neighborhood south of the city, shops on Al-Arbaeen Street in the center of the city, Kania Kordan neighborhood and Kobani forest.

The US Embassy in Syria condemned the attack, tweeting that “We are deeply concerned by reports of shelling on Kobani and deplore any loss of civilian life. The United States calls on all parties to deescalate.”

Mazloum Abdî, the SDF General Commander, tweeted a statement: “Turkey is escalating violations of int’l covenants with guarantor countries against our regions. The targeting of Kobani, shelling of innocent civilians, & killings of administrative figures by drones are provocations that threaten security & peace & hinder anti-ISIS operations.”

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkey.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Farhad Muhammad Hassan فرهاد محمد حسن
28 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • ANHA correspondent from the area reported that Turkish occupation army resumed its artillery bombardment on the center of the city of Kobani, and reprted that an artillery shell fell on a 3-storey building on the Street 48 without exploding (Hawar News)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish bombing of Kobani on April 22, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish bombing of Kobani on April 22, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Farhad Muhammad Hassan (28 years), who was injured by shrapnel in the leg in alleged Turkish strikes in Kobani. (Image posted by Ezdina)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a strike on houses in the Al Shahid Kawa (الشهيد كاوا) neighbourhood, allegedly located in the south of the city of Kobani (كوباني). The generic coordinates for Kobani are: 36.889165, 38.353649. 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
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS536

Incident date

July 30, 2022

Location

لم الخير, Umm Al Khair, Al-Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.631647, 40.256996 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least seven and up to ten civilians, including women and children, were reported injured in an alleged Turkish bombardment targeting Umm Al Khair village, in the countryside of Tal Tamr, in Al-Hassakah, Syria, on July 30th 2022.

According to ANHA, the names and ages of those injured are as followed:  “Laila Omar Saleh, 4 years old, was subjected to shrapnel in the face, Juri Omar Saleh, 25 years old, was subjected to shrapnel in the hand, and Ahmed Muhammad Al-Mohammed, 60 years old, sustained injuries all over his body and his health condition is critical. A year-old was subjected to shrapnel in the abdomen and another in the chest, Hilwa Ezzo Awad, 63 years old, was subjected to shrapnel in the chest, Naim Muhammad Wazou, 30 years old, who was bruised, Nawras Hamid Antar, 25 years old, was bruised and Safa Ahmed Ali, 25 years old, from Umm al-Khair village, her health condition is stable.” Other names not reported by ANHA were Omar Hussein Diab and Nofa Alawi Al-Ali, aged 60 years old.

Local sources reported that the Internal Security Forces announced that seven civilians were injured. In the aftermath, North Press Agency reported that this rose to nine.  Most other local sources, including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that ten civilians were injured as the final number. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that in addition, one Syrian regime soldier had been injured too.

North Press Agency reported that People’s Hospital in Al-Hassakah recieved three wounded civilians, Nofa, Halwa and Ahmad. Ahmad had fracture in his right humerus and shrapnel in the ambomen, and was reported to be in a critical condition.

Halwa Al-Awad said, “we were in our village, sleeping on the rooftop, and all of a sudden, the shelling started hitting us.” She told the North Press Agency that the bombardment was not targeting any military positions, but “only civilians.”

North Press Agency reported that the town of Tel Tamr has been under attack by the Turkish military and its affiliated armed opposition faction, known as the Syrian National Army (SNA) for more than two years.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Laila Omar Saleh
4 years old female injured
Juri Omar Saleh
25 years old injured
Ahmed Muhammad Al-Mohammed
60 years old male injured
Hilwa Ezzo Awad
63 years old male injured
Naim Muhammad Wazou
30 years old male injured
Safa Ahmed Ali
25 years old
Omar Hussein Diab
Age unknown male
Nofa Alawi Al-Ali
60 years old

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–10
  • 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
    1

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • North Press Agency reported that three of the injured arrived in the People's Hospital in Al-Hassakah on July 30th 2022 (Image via NPA)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Umm Al Khair (لم الخير), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.631647, 40.256996. 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
    7–10
  • 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
    1

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS563

Incident date

November 3, 2022

Location

تل حلف, Tal Halaf, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.8237138, 40.0378232 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A nine year old girl was killed when an alleged Turkish armored vehicle ran her over in the village of Tal Halaf on November 3, 2022.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a girl was killed when she was run over by a Turkish vehicle in the village of Tal Halaf.

A local source told North Press Agency that a Turkish armored vehicle ran over a nine year old girl named Naranj Suleiman Al-Hafiz, near the roundabout of the town of Tal Halaf, while she was on her way to the Sharia Institute. The local source added that the Turkish vehicle did not help the girl, who died on the way to the hospital. Vedeng News added that the incident occurred at 8:30 in the morning.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the vehicle to Turkey.

The incident occured at 08:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Naranj Suleiman Al-Hafiz
9 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • 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]

  • Naranj Suleiman Al-Hafiz, 9 years old, killed by a Turkish armored vehicle in Tal Halaf on November 3, 2022. (Image posted by Baladi News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal Halaf (تل حلف), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.8237138, 40.0378232. 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
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • 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]