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

TS185

Incident date

February 11, 2018

Location

بيباكا, Bibaka, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One civilian male was wounded in an alleged Turkish artillery attack on his home in Bibaka village, according to a single source.

The victim, Şiyar Bekir, spoke to the source IC Afrin resistance: “My name is Siyar Bekir. I am from Bibaka village in Bilbil. Yesterday [February 11th] at 7:30 pm they threw mortars on my house. I don’t really know which weapon, maybe mortars, maybe rockets. I was injured here. My stomach was also injured and I got shrapnel in my leg. It was the Turkish army. They call us terrorists but we’re not. I normally fix the generators in my village. What did we do to them? We are civilians, not soldiers. And they threw five rockets on us.”

The incident occured at 19:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Şiyar Bekir
Age unknown 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Interview with the victim who was wounded by alleged Turkish strikes in Bibaka village, Aleppo on 11 February, 2018 (via IC Afrin resistance)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Bibaka, Aleppo (بيباكا), 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

TS217

Incident date

February 20, 2018

Location

حي الأشرفيه, Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Six civilians including four children from the same family were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Afrin city’s Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, local media reported.

According to SDF Press, the Turkish invasion army used heavy weapons to target civilian neighbourhoods in Afrin at night and focused on the bombing of Ashrafieh.

Multiple sources have identified six named the victims.

Hewar news reported that six civilians were injured and seven cars were burned by the Turkish bombing.

Mutlu Civiroglu published a video showing burning cars following reported artillery attacks. The report added that sources said jets are flying over the skies.

Hawar news provided some more detail, explaining that the Turkish occupation army shelled late last night the centre of Afrin district, injuring six members of one family, and burning seven cars. This happened at about 1 am after midnight, with artillery shells landing in populated areas.

The father of the injured children spoke to Dilsoz dildar: “I have four kids, we were at home, we switched the lights out and went to bed. A plane fired at our house and the ceiling fell on top of us while we were asleep. God, the neighbours and the young men came and pulled us out from under the roof. I have two rooms in my house they both collapsed, we came out injured and broken. This is a local neighbourhood there are no military no brigades no weapons.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

8 years old female via Tahleel news injured
10 years old male via Tahleel news injured
41 years old male via Tahleel news injured
10 years old male via Tahleel news injured
14 years old via Tahleel news injured

The victims were named as:

35 years old via Tahleel news 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 (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • An image shows smoke rising from the scene of a reported Turkish shelling on Afrin 20th February 2018. (Source: Afrin the heart of the event)
  • An image shows a man at the hospital, injured following an alleged Turkish shelling on Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (Source: dilsoz dildar‏ )
  • An image shows smoke rising from the scene of a reported Turkish shelling on Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (Source: Afrin the heart of the event)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows a child with his Mother, injured following an alleged Turkish shelling on Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (Source: Afrin the heart of the event)
  • A list from the hospital indicates the civilians names, who were injured following an alleged Turkish shelling on Afrin (source @osman_sarot)
  • An image shows smoke rising from the scene of a reported Turkish shelling on Afrin 20th February 2018. (‏Source: @bnt3frin)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture of a child, treating at the hospital following an alleged Turkish shelling on Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (Source 7al)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A video shows a child at the huspital getting a treatment fowling an alleged Turkish shelling on Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (source @osman_sarot)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows a child, injured followed an alleged Turkish shelling on Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (source @osman_sarot)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows a man, injured followed alleged Turkish shelling on Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (source @osman_sarot)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows a child, injured followed an alleged Turkish shelling on Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (source @osman_sarot)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Several videos, show the moment of the shelling by alleged Turkish on Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (source: Mutlu Civiroglu)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage shows several children and a man at the hospital injured following an alleged Turkish shelling on Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (Source: Hewar news)
  • An image shows the civilian car that was targeted by an alleged Turkish shelling in Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (Source: ANHA)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows a child, injured following an alleged Turkish shelling on Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (Source: ANHA)
  • A picture shows a man, injured following an alleged Turkish shelling on Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (Source: ANHA)
  • An image shows the civilian car that was targeted by an alleged Turkish shelling in Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (Source: ANHA)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows a child, injured following alleged Turkish shelling on Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin 20th February 2018. (Source: ANHA)
  • Footage shows several cars burned following alleged Turkish shelling on Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin, 20th February 2018. (Source: Mutlu Civiroglu)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Ashrafiya neighbourhood, Afrin (حي الأشرفيه), 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
    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 (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1739a TS282a

Incident date

March 18, 2018

Location

تل حميس, Tal Hamees, South of al Qamishli, Al Hassaka, Syria

Geolocation

36.754529, 41.398836 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported that Turkey carried out airstrikes on SDF positions in Tal Hamees, South of al Qamishli. However, other outlets also stated that this was not the case and that the US-led Coalition conducted strikes on homes which reportedly held family members of ISIS. However, no casualty estimates were given.

The Shaam News Network, citing activists, said that Turkish aircraft targeted the positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces in the area of Tal Hamis and at the Umm al-Russ station southeast of the city of Qamishli.

Syria al hadath added: Turkish planes targeted locations of the Kurdish units at the Umm al-Rouss station in the west of Tal Hamis, in the north-eastern countryside of Al-Hasakah.

Al Hasaka Youth Union Facebook page posted: Turkish aircraft target the positions of the militia PYD in the area Tel_hamis southeast of  Qamishli but later corrected themselves, stating that it was, in fact, a Coalition airstrike. The source also ambivalently reported that the strike targeted homes of Iraqi refugees with the claims that IS elements were present there.

Shaam Network also reported it as a Turkish airstrike while Baladi News blamed the Coalition. The source added that homes were targeted because there were claims that there were ISIS militants present.

Baladi said: Local sources from the region said that an aerial landing of the International Coalition, carried out by a helicopter accompanied by two other aircraft, on the area of agricultural projects, pointing out that it targeted two homes inhabited by two Iraqi families, who fled earlier to the region.

According to the sources, the operation was carried out at 2 am, followed by loudspeaker calls, saying that they were soldiers from the International Coalition, followed by intermittent firing.

Some sources said that a Turkish air strike targeted the area near the town of Tal Hamis – but these reports could not be verified.

According to Jisr TV, in the north-east of Hasaka, Coalition forces arrested a number of Iraqi refugees in the countryside of Tel Hamis, after the implementation of an aerial landing in the region.

Asia News provided some more detail, adding that three US helicopters carried out an aerial landing targeting a house between the villages of Kalou and al-Jaysi, 2 km south of Tal Hamis district in the south-eastern suburb of Qamishli.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal Hamees, South of al Qamishli ( تل حميس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.754529, 41.398836. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

There were no reported strikes conducted in Syria or Iraq on March 18, 2018.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Sunday 18 March – a Reaper killed two terrorists on a motorcycle in eastern Syria…On Sunday 18 March, a Reaper tracked a pair of terrorists on a motorcycle south-east of As Shadadi in eastern Syria. It became clear that they were operating as a mobile checkpoint in an attempt to exert control over the local area. The Reaper’s crew waited until the motorcycle was in open country, and despite its high speed, achieved a direct hit with a Hellfire which killed both of the Daesh extremists.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS318

Incident date

October 12, 2019

Location

كوباني, Qamishli, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that a young female, named as Eiman Hajji Sharif, died after being shot by a Turkish sniper in Qamishli.

Kurdish Red Crescent named the victim Imam Ibrahim, male, 24 years old while other sources named them Iman Ibrahim.

However, all other sources said that the victim was female and named her as Eiman Hajji Sharif, publishing her photo.

Rudaw said: “The 24-year-old mother of a two-year-old girl lost her life after being sniped, according to her father, when she was bringing bread to her family on Saturday morning [Oct 12th] on the Belt Road in #Qamishlo”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Imam Ibrahim
22-25 years old female KRC List killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Qamishli (كوباني), for which the generic coordinates 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
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS350

Incident date

October 16, 2019

Location

مشرفة, Musharrafa, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.933136, 40.342870 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

@NPA_English tweeted: “Two civilians were abducted, a third injured, by Turkish-backed armed militants, in village of Musharrafa, in the outskirts of Sere-Kaniye (Ras al-Ain), while they were returning to the city.”

Other sources also noted that three civilians were kidnapped “by armed mercenaries supported by Turkey” and that one was wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Musharrafa (مشرفة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.933136, 40.342870. 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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS373

Incident date

October 28, 2019

Location

El Erîde, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.387064, 38.862501 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported executed allegedly by Turkey forces and/or Turkey-backed militants in El Eride, Ain Issa in Raqqa governorate on October 28th 2019, according to local sources.

ANHA and Politika identified the two victims as Mehmûd Zahêr (60 years old) and Berho Elo (65 years old).

@Karl_hakon tweeted: “Turkish military and their mercenaries continue their cease-fire violations and war crimes.

“North of Ain Issa, two civilians named Mahmoud al-Zaher(60) and Barho al-Alu (65) were murdered”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

60 years old male killed
65 years old killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    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 attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village or El Erîde, allegedly north of Ain Issa (عين عيسى). 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: 36.387064, 38.862501.

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
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    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 attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS378A

Incident date

October 31, 2019

Location

تل تمر, Tal Tamr, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.655309, 40.372388 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Kurdish Red Crescent, four civilians including a woman were reported injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Tamr in Hassakah governorate in Syria on October 31st, 2019.

No additional information about this event is presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ebrahim Khaled al Khalaf
60 years old male KRC injured
Teffaha Ali al Salih
55 years old female KRC injured
Mahmoud Khalaf
38 years old male KRC injured
Ahmad Taha Mansour
40 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
    4
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tal Tamr (تل تمر), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.655309, 40.372388. 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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS418

Incident date

March 8, 2020

Location

عرب حسن, Arab Hassan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.649444, 37.847778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was reported injured in alleged Turkey forces/ pro-Turkey militants shelling of Arab Hassan in Northwest Manbej, Aleppo on March 8th, 2020, according to local sources.

@NotWoofers said the village was attacked with six mortars.

No further details are available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Arab Hassan (عرب حسن) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.649444 37.847778. 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
    No
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]