Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident Code

TI019

Incident date

November 14, 2018

Location

عمادية, Amadiyah, Duhok, Iraq

Geolocation

37.092003, 43.486966 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three civilian men were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes targeting the Kurdish district of Amadiyah, Dohuk. No sources mentioned the number of wounded.

Several sources identified three victims by name. Ramadan Rikani, a local official of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) added that the victims were “sons of one village, two of them Peshmerga and the other of our party cadres, were in the village raising their livestock.”

The strikes reportedly targeted the Qadash complex of Amadiyah district the night between November 14 and 15.

Families of the three civilians allegedly found their bodies when they went out to work in beekeeping in the morning.

NRT reported that “It is worth mentioning that the Turkish warplanes bombed from time to time sites and areas in the north of Kurdistan region, especially around the area of Bradust and Amadiyah and the foothills of the Qandil mountains, which have targets belonging to the PKK.”

All know sources pointed to Turkey as the culprit.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Ramzan Ahmed
Age unknown male killed
Delvan Saleh
Age unknown male killed
Ismail Hassan
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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 image was published along with the reporting about the Turkish strikes thar killed three men in Amadiyah, Duhok. The source, however, does not specify whether if these are the victims on the picture. (via Rudaw)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Amadiyah (عمادية), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.092003, 43.486966. 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
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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

TI020

Incident date

December 13, 2018

Location

مخمور, Makhmour refugee camp, Erbil, Iraq

Geolocation

35.761235, 43.604991 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four women were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on the Rustam Jodi refugee camp in Makhmour, south of Erbil on December 13th 2018, according to local media reports.

Rustom Joudi, the governor of Rastam Jodi camp, said that the Turkish shelling, which took place at 21:00 on Thursday, killed four women, three of them from one family, and were shelled while they went to their campsites.

The Turkish Army Chief of Staff announced that its warplanes bombed the positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Sinjar and Mount Qora Gokh, in the district of Makhmour. The presidency added that “The Turkish army destroyed the shelters, caches, tunnels and warehouses of the Workers Party in an air operation on the organization’s sites in Sinjar and Mount Qara Gokh.”

According to Shaffaq News “Prior to the funeral ceremony, hundreds of people had gone to the UN headquarters to push them to take a serious and concrete stance on Turkish bombing.”

No other details are known at this time.

The incident occured at 21:00:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 women)
  • 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]

  • Funeral of the victims of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Makhmour, 22nd December 2018. (via Shafaaq)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 women)
  • 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

TI021

Incident date

January 22, 2019

Location

رشاوة , Rashawa, Duhok, Iraq

Geolocation

36.865292, 42.991828 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four men were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on the area of Deraluk, Dohuk province, on January 22nd or 23rd, 2020, according to local sources. Two men remain missing: it is unknown if they were also killed or arrested or kidnapped. It is unclear if the men were civilians or Peshmerga.

A local “security source” reported that four civilians were killed and others wounded in the evening of January 22nd, in the province of Kurdistan after Turkish airstrikes targeted Rashawa in the area of Deira Lock of Dohuk province.

According to Alayam, witnesses told the German news agency DPA that “four of them, north of Dohuk, were killed by the Turkish aircraft bombing this evening and that a fifth citizen is still missing.” The witnesses added that “the villagers were able to find two bodies and the search is underway for the other two bodies”. Relatives of the missing citizen reported that he was also located in the mountainous area targeted tonight.

Rudaw named two of the victims and said they were in the area to fish. There is also speculation that they were Peshmerga forces.

Fazel Hawramy initially tweeted that two civilians, both of them beekeepers, were killed but later updated the death toll to four.

Babylon FM published a similar report, naming four dead civilians, two of them beekeepers. However, in the picture, one of them is shown in a military uniform.

In May 2019, CPTIK published their report after interviews with family members of the killed and missing men. The report reads “the Turkish jets struck Matin Mountain and Zele and Hetut villages for more than one hour [on January 23rd, 2019]. The airstrike resulted in 6 civilian victims, four of the bodies were recovered, but the fate of the two others is still unknown.”

The brother of one of the victims, Haidar, told CPTIK: “My brother and four others were fishing in Zele village, where there were not any Turkish military bases around. My brother was working, fishing with others, but the Turkish aeroplanes bombed the area. Two of my brother’s friends were killed and their bodies were found in that spot; but the fate of my brother and one of his friends is still unknown and we do not know whether they were injured or killed, arrested or something else. Haider and his friends were innocent.”

Haidar and Redar are still missing, the bodies of two of their friends, both named Azad, were killed. According to CPTIK, all men were Peshmerga.

Two other men were killed in the village of Hetut. CPTIK: “Bakhtyar and Zyad had started beekeeping due to the financial crisis. They were in Hetut on the 23rd of January taking care of their bees. The Turkish jets bombed the village. It took two days for their bodies to be discovered.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Azad Shahin
Adult male killed
Wahid Baki
Adult male killed
Jegr Muhammad Tahr
Age unknown male killed
Azad Majd
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 4
  • (4 men)
  • 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 killed
    0–4

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Supoosed location of the incident
  • Pictures of the alleged victims
  • Picture supposedly taken at the funerals for the victims (via Rojnews)
  • Another picture supposedly taken at the funerals for the victims (via Rojnews)
  • Another picture supposedly taken at the funerals for the victims (via Rojnews)
  • Another picture supposedly taken at the funerals for the victims (via Rojnews)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Rashawa (رشاوة ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.865292, 42.991828. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 4
  • (4 men)
  • 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 killed
    0–4

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI021a

Incident date

May 15, 2019

Location

برزان, Mount Butin, Erbil, Iraq

Geolocation

37.077778, 44.155833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 50-year-old male civilian died in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Barzan, according to multiple local sources.

ANF reported: “Turkish fighter jets carried out a bombardment on Mount Bote located in Barzan region in the countryside of Hewler (Erbil) Governorate.

“A 50-year-old civilian by the name of Kazım Eli was killed in the attack. The man was reportedly collecting beets in the area targeted by Turkish warplanes.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Kazım Eli
50 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The body of Kazim Ali is carried away following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Barzan (via Sator-iq)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a strike on Mount Butin (بۆتین), in vicinity of  Pendro (پێندرۆ) village. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Mount Bote are: 37.077778, 44.155833.

  • Reports mention a strike on Mount Butin (بۆتین) close to the village of Pendro (پێندرۆ)

    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
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI022a

Incident date

June 5, 2019

Location

Xakurkê, Erbil, Iraq

Geolocation

37.036667, 44.651389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were reportedly injured in Turkish airstrike on Xakurkê in the Qandil mountains.

ANF reported: “The villagers, who rushed out to extinguish the fire at 6 am this morning were targeted by Turkish warplanes.

Four villagers were wounded in the attack, one of them seriously. Two of the villagers were named locally as Jabir and Xoshevi.

Local sources informed ANF that the wounded are from the village of Merga Reşê in Şeyh Zade valley and are being treated at Soran hospital.”

According to ANHA, “The villagers rushed to rescue their plants, but the warplane targeted them on Wednesday morning [June 5th], and that resulted in wounding four villagers, and the condition of one of them is critical.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Jabir
Adult male injured
Xoshevi
Adult male injured

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish strike on .Xakurkê, Qandil mountains, June 5th 2019 (via ANHA)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Xakurkê, for which the generic coordinates are: 37.036667, 44.651389. 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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

TI022

Incident date

June 5, 2019

Location

سدكان, Sedkan, Erbil, Iraq

Geolocation

36.801389, 44.665 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three Peshmergas, potentially civilian combatants at the time, were injured by an alleged Turkish airstrike on Sedkan.

Rudaw said: “Three militants from the Peshmerga were wounded, one of them in a serious condition, as a result of Turkish shelling on Wednesday around the town of “Sedkan” of the city of Erbil in the Kurdistan Region.

According to the information received, the Turkish warplanes bombed sites of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) early Wednesday morning in the area of ​​Sheikh Zadeh near the village of Merkeh Rash in the vicinity of the town of Sidkan in Erbil.”

Nasnews reported: “The Peshmerga elements rushed to extinguish the fires left by the shelling,” adding that “one of the injured was seriously injured (one hand and one leg was amputated).”

Rojnews noted: “Three Peshmerga troops were wounded” – and published associated images of the casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khoshoy Mikael
Adult male Peshmerga killed
Muhajer Mikael
Adult male Peshmerga killed
Aziz Jafir
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • 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
    0–3

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Accoridng to Rojnews, "Three Peshmerga troops were wounded in a Turkish air attack on the Bradost area in northern Holler." (via Rojnews)
  • Accoridng to Rojnews, "Three Peshmerga troops were wounded in a Turkish air attack on the Bradost area in northern Holler." (via Rojnews)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sedkan (سدكان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.801389, 44.665. 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • 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
    0–3

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI022b

Incident date

June 12, 2019

Location

Kany Motel, Dohuk, Iraq

Geolocation

37.086813, 43.527634 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraqi Kurdistan reported that two workers of a plant shop were injured in Turkish airstrikes on the town of Amadiya on June 12th, 2019.

CPTIK reported: “On June 12, 2019, The Turkish Military dropped a bomb within Amadiya, just a few blocks from The Kany Motel and Tahini Factory. The bomb landed just in front of a gas station and a plant shop on the main road. Two workers at the plant shop were injured, the large cement roof of the gas station collapsed, and a huge hole made by the impact still blocks half of the road.”

Barzan Sadiq tweeted that “Turkish warplanes destroyed PKK-owned vehicles just metres away from civilian facilities in Amadiya” but made no mention of civilian harm.

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
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • The gas station in Amedi after being hit by an alleged Turkish airstrike on June 12th 2019. (via CPTIK)

Geolocation notes

Reports on the incident mention the Kany Motel, in the proximity of the village of Amadiya(العمدية), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.086813, 43.527634.  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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI023

Incident date

June 26, 2019

Location

زين خليل, Zain Khalil, Dohuk, Iraq

Geolocation

36.737683, 44.388548 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and as many as three others wounded in an alleged Turkish airstrike in the Bradost region of Iraqi Kurdistan on June 26th, 2019 according to local media reports.

25-year-old Mansour Nafie lost his life in the attack, while his brother Bashiu Nafie was injured according to Rudaw. ANF reported that as many as three people were injured.

“At 6pm a Turkish jet was initially spotted overhead in the village of Zini Khalil in Bradost and it started densely bombing at 7pm,” Ahmed Khalil, the village chieftain, told Rudaw.

The two brothers were travelling in a vehicle when they were caught in the airstrike, Khalil said. Mansour Nafih, 25, was killed, and Pashew Nafih, 20, was wounded.

Adnan Ghafour, the physician on duty at the Ashti Hospital in Bradost said Nafih had sustained “serious injures”.

“After treating him with emergency first aid, we refereed him to West Erbil Emergency Hospital,” Ghafour told Rudaw English.

The Turkish defense ministry confirmed late on Wednesday that its warplanes had targeted Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) positions in Zap and Khakurk, “neutralizing two terrorists”.

ANF said the strike took place in the Goshine area of Bradost.

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

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mansour Nafie 25
Adult male Brother os Bashiu killed
Bashiu Nafie 20
Adult male Brother of Mansour injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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.

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Mansour Nafie (via Rudaw)

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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.

Sources (4) [ collapse]