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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Turkish Military
Country
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Incident Code

TS049

Incident date

January 13, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Al Bab 24 named Hassan Mohammad al Hussein al Assfour as killed in “Turkish shelling” in Al Bab, Syria.

On January 14th, both Amna Alali and Halab Today reported the “death of 12 civilians and wounding of 18 more as a result of a Turkish air and artillery yesterday [Jan 13th] on the town of Tadef and the city of Bab in the countryside”

There are no other details avalible at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Mohammad al Hussein al Assfour
Adult male killed

Summary

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

  • Hassan Mohammad al Hussein al Assfour, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Al Bab city, 13th January 2017. (via Al Bab24)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab city ( 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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

TS087

Incident date

July 3, 2017

Location

Jelber village, [or Cilbir] Shirawa district, Afrin, Syria

Geolocation

36.484167, 36.968889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians including an elderly woman were wounded in an alleged Turkish artillery attack on Jelber village, Afrin, according to local media.

Aksalser cited Kurdish Activists and reported that “a woman from the village of Gelber in the countryside of Afrin was injured by the Turkish artillery”

Azadiy Kurdistan said that “according to medical sources, four civilians were wounded in the village of Jalbar as a result of the shelling of the village by the Turkish army and the militias backed by them.”

According to Welat FM “the hospital administration confirmed that they also received four injured civilians from the village of Gelber in the area of ​​Shirawa as a result of targeting the village more than 20 shells.”

Rok Online said that those injured included an elderly woman.

Aylina Kilic provided some further details, reporting: ‘Sabah Isa (40) who was wounded in the shelling of Turkish-backed groups on the #Afrin village said: “Was it a mortar or shell, I don’t know”.
“She continued: ‘They fired it and I was in the balcony. I told the children to come inside. They were firing at the garden and surroundings’.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sabah Isa
40 years old female injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • 'Update: 4 civilians have been wounded in yesterday's shelling on villages in Canton #Afrin by Turkey-backed jihadist groups (ANHA) #Rojava'
  • A woman allegedly injured in the attack
  • Destruction caused by alleged Turkish strikes on either the village of Jelber of Kafronton, it was unclear which. (via Manbij.org)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Turkish strikes on either the village of Jelber of Kafronton, it was unclear which. (via Manbij.org)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Turkish strikes on either the village of Jelber of Kafronton, it was unclear which. (via Manbij.org)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Turkish strikes on either the village of Jelber of Kafronton, it was unclear which. (via Manbij.org)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Turkish strikes on either the village of Jelber of Kafronton, it was unclear which. (via Manbij.org)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Turkish strikes on either the village of Jelber of Kafronton, it was unclear which. (via Manbij.org)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Turkish strikes on either the village of Jelber of Kafronton, it was unclear which. (via Manbij.org)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Turkish strikes on either the village of Jelber of Kafronton, it was unclear which. (via Manbij.org)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Jelber village, [or Cilbir] Shirawa district, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.484167, 36.968889. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS459 TS062

Incident date

January 25, 2017

Location

تادف, Tadif, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two named children died in either Turkish or Coalition airstrikes on Tadef.
According to the Syrian Network “The children So’ad and Jonaid Fares Al Ali died after International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Tadef town in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs.”

However according to al Bab News, “Turkish planes launched three raids at dawn today killing two from the family of Faress al Ali who is from the rescue teams in al Bab. His daughter Souad al Ali, 15 years old and his son Juneid Al Ali, 9 years old and he [the father] was injured. Several buildings were totally destroyed.”

Al Bab 24 noted on the same day “a violent air and artillery bombardment from the Russian and Nusairi [sectarian term refering to Alawites] and Turkish [armies] in coordination targeting al Bab, Tadef, Baza’a and several village nearby al Bab hit with no casualties recorded thank God.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also blamed Turkey, but put the death count at three, reporting that “three from the same family including a woman with her grand daughter and son died in the town of Tadif near al-Bab city”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

So’ad Fares Al Ali
Child female killed
Jonaid Fares Al Ali
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the air strike (via Al Bab 24)
  • Aftermath of the air strike (via Al Bab 24)
  • The names of the victims of the strike.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tadif (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.

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 Taadif (Aleppo), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA6822823612
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 24th-25th 2017, the Coalition reported: “Near Manbij, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed three fighting positions, and suppressed an ISIL tactical unit.”

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

TS511

Incident date

May 29, 2022

Location

معلق, Mu’allaq, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a young man, was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Mu’allaq on the morning of May 29, 2022.

According to North Press Agency, a civilian was injured in shelling carried out by Turkish forces and their affiliated Syrian National Army (SNA) faction on a village west of Ain Issa. The name of the young man that was injured is Fadi Khallawi and he was taken to Omar Alloush hospital in the town to receive treatment, and his condition is stable.

An Xeber24 correspondent from inside Ain Issa added that the shelling occurring in the morning in the village of Muallaq, resulting in the injury of one civilian.

All of the sources that reported on the incident blamed Turkish forces and identified one civilian as being wounded.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • 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
    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 (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Fadi Khalawi, a civilian injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Muallaq, west of Ain Issa on May 29, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mu’allaq (معلق), allegedly located west 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
    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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS542

Incident date

August 9, 2022

Location

السلماسة, Al Salmsaa, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.640463, 40.292959 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed on August 9th 2022 in the village of Al-Salmsaa, southwest of Tal Tamr district in Syria, as a result of alleged Turkish military artillery.

The incident was reported to have taken place at approximately 3:30am in the morning, which allegedly resulted in the death of Ibrahim Mohammad Hashi, aged 55. He was reportedly displaced from the village of Al-Sebatiya, northwest of Tal Tamr district.

Hashi was severely injured in this attack and was taken to Hasaka Hospital where he was confirmed dead.

The incident occured at 03:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Muhammad Hashi
55 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Salmsaa (السلماسة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.640463, 40.292959. 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 infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS572

Incident date

November 23, 2022

Location

المصرف, Al Masraf, Al Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.02628, 41.546997 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were injured by alleged Turkish airstrikes that struck a civilian car in the village of Masraf on November 23, 2022.

ANF reported that three people were injured when Turkish forces bombed a civilian car in the village of Masraf. The injured civilians were transferred to Qamishli Hospital for treatment.

Both Hawar News and Dijla posted on Facebook a similar casualty count of three civilian injured.

All three sources that reported on the incident attributed the bombing to Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Car damaged by alleged Turkish airstrikes in the village of Masraf on November 23, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Masraf (المصرف), allegedly located in the vicinity of Al Qahtaniyah (القحطانية). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Qahtaniyah are: 37.02628, 41.546997.  

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS614

Incident date

July 23, 2023

Location

قرية أبين/ بينه, village of Abyan/Bineh, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 23 July 2023, a female civilian was reportedly injured by Turkish artillery fire in the village of Abyan/Bineh in the Sherawa district.

According to the Afrin Human Rights Organisation, 21-year old Kurdish woman Hevin Hamo Shrou from the village of Qibariyeh was injured by shrapnel in the foot as a result of artillery fire. Hevin had been residing in the village of Abyan/ Bineh after being forcibly displaced from her home in Afrin in 2018 and was transferred to hospital for treatment.

Afrin Human Rights Organisation specifically attributed the shelling to Turkish forces stationed in the village of Jalber, and identified four mortar shells as being used in the attack.

Similar details were reported by a series of sources, including a local Facebook post, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights and a report from the Domiz camp.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hevin Hamo Shrou هيفين حمو شرو
21 years old female 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
    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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Hevin Hamo Shrou who sustained a foot injury from alleged Turkish shelling of Bineh on July 23, 2023. (Image posted by البارتي في مخيم دوميز Domiz camp via Facebook)

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
    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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS651

Incident date

October 20, 2023

Location

قرية الشيخ عيسى, Sheikh Esa,  the Al-Shahba area, Aleppo countryside, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Friday, October 20th, 2023, an alleged Turkish artillery shelling in the village of Sheikh Esa, located in the Al-Shahba area in the northern countryside of Aleppo, injured a young man.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the 22-year-old man, named as Ali Radwan Ahmed, was taken to hospital for treatment for injuries suffered on his arm. ANF news shared an image where his injured arm can be seen.

Sources disclosed that the injury was a part of Turkish shelling across the Al-Shaba District, whilst others reported that the artillery was directed at the Shirawa District, where Kurdish forces are currently deployed.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to the Turkish military.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Radwan Ahmed علي رضوان احمد
22 years old male injured

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: ANF news

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
    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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (3) [ collapse]