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

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

TS648

Incident date

October 9, 2023

Location

قرية المستور, Al-Mastoor village, near Ain Essa district, Hasakah, al-Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

In the afternoon of Monday, October 9th, 2023, an alleged Turkish artillery strike reportedly killed two children –  a girl named Nadia Mohsen Al-Ayyash (aged 8-10, according to different sources) and a boy named Ali Ahmed Al-Ayyash (aged 6-9) in the village of Al-Mastour located in the western outskirts of the city of Ain Issa, Syria. Additionally, in the same attack, a boy was seriously injured and transferred to a hospital in the city of Raqqa, as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

A resident of Ain Issa said in a comment to North Press Agency that the two children who were killed in the incident were cousins. He added that the artillery shelling targeted populated villages on the contact line in the Ain Issa countryside.

Social media sources, including ANha Arabic, Shahba Alez and RPJ Rojava posted graphic images of the deceased children.

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

The exact local time of the incident is unknown.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ali Ahmed Al-Ayyash علي احمد العياش
9 years old male killed
Nadia Mohsen Al-Ayyash نادية محسن العياش
10 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Shahba Alez facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Shahba Alez facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Shahba Alez facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Shahba Alez facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: RPJ Rojava facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: RPJ Rojava facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Warning: very graphic video

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
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS054 RS1847a

Incident date

January 18, 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

A single source, Halab News, reported eight of the nine civilians in “Russian enemy raids” in Tadef, Syria. It also named the victims.

According to Al Jazeera, “The Russian and Turkish air forces, for the first time, carried out a joint operation against militants of the Islamic State Organization in Bab in countryside of, Aleppo, in an agreement with the Syrian regime, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.”

However, the US-led Coalition also reportedly carried out strikes on Al Bab. Shahed-ayan.co reported: “The United States-led International Alliance announced on Tuesday (January 17th) that it had launched four air raids for the first time near the city of Bab in support of the Turkish-led military operation against the Da’ash organization in northern Syria. ‘We have spotted targets near Bab al-Bab in cooperation with Turkey, and we expect to continue this type of raid,’ said coalition military spokesman Col. John Durian at a news conference in Baghdad.
‘We noticed an opportunity in which it was in our common interest to destroy those targets, which included an armored personnel carrier and tactical units of the organization,’ Durian said.”

According to Terror Monitor, “AR ISIS published photos claiming to be targeting heavy weapons in the west of the city of Bab in the countryside of Aleppo.”

Misrin Post added that the regime also carried out raids on Tadef.

However, none of these sources made any mention of civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Hassan al Zein
Age unknown male named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed
Ahmad Jumaa al Zein
Age unknown male named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed
Abd al Hamid Rahmo Dalati
Age unknown male named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed
Hussam Mohammad Sobhi al Othman
Age unknown male named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed
Wife of Mahmoud al Eido
Age unknown female named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed
Daughter of Mahmoud al Eido
Age unknown female named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed
Ahmad Wahab al Raziya
Age unknown male named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed
Yahiya Ahmad Khalilo
Age unknown male named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "The military aircraft of the regime forces targeted several raids in the city of Bab in the countryside of eastern Aleppo." (via mersin_post)
  • ISIS published photos claiming to be targeting heavy weapons in the west of the city of Bab in the countryside of Aleppo. (via TerrorMonitorAR)

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

Original strike reports

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

Wednesday 18 January – Tornados destroyed a terrorist armed truck near Al Bab in Syria…Surveillance and strike operations have also been maintained against Daesh in Syria, and on Wednesday 18 January, Tornados conducted an armed reconnaissance patrol near Al Bab, where they used a Paveway IV to destroy an armed truck which Daesh had attempted to conceal in a vehicle shelter.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS074

Incident date

February 6, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.5179666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, Ahmad Bathish died in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Al Bab, Syria.

Al Bab 24 wrote that “Ahmad Bathish died following Turkish shelling on Al Bab today [Feb 6th].”

Al Bab Coordination also named him in a victims’ list posted on Facebook – but didn’t identify who was responsible for his death.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Bathish
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Bathish, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Al Bab, 6th Feb 2017. (via Al Bab 24)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.5179666. 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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS489 TS079

Incident date

February 13, 2017

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, New Street, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3705393, 37.5151107

Airwars assessment

At least 15 civilians from the same family died in either Turkish or Coalition airstrikes, as the battle to seize Al Bab from ISIL continued. Up to nine other non-combatants also died.

Al Jazeera initially placed the death toll at 16 and then 24, though said the fatalities resulted from “shelling and battles in the city.” The Syrian Network blamed the Coalition for the deaths of “17 civilians, including 3 children and 5 women”, while LCCSY reported “21 martyrs in Aleppo killed in Turkish air and artillery bombardment on al Bab.”

According to Shaam News “Al A’amaq agency [ISIL] reported that Turkish aircraft and aircraft of the international coalition launched more than 20 air raid on the city’s neighborhoods, as has been targeting residential neighborhoods with more than 250 artillery shells and grenades.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (12)

Abdo Ahmad Kazkaz
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad Ali Kazkaz
Age unknown male killed
Mohammad Ali Kazkaz
Age unknown male killed
Abdo
Age unknown male son of Ahmad Abdo Kazkaz killed
Mohammad
Age unknown male son of Mohammad Ali Kazkaz killed
Mohannand Mohammad Ali Kazkaz
Age unknown male killed
Fattoum Kazkaz
Age unknown female killed
Sahar Kazkaz
Age unknown female killed
Subhi Misto Kazkaz
Age unknown male killed
Alia Kazkaz
Age unknown male killed
Sobhi Kazkaz
Age unknown male killed
Dalal Kazkaz
Age unknown female killed

Family members (3)

Badriya Hajj Abdo
Age unknown female killed
Khaled Haj Abdo
Age unknown male killed
Mohammad Haj Abdo
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Abdul-Mo’ti Al-Waki
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 24
  • (3 children5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 17 were killed and others wounded due to warplane raid targeted the new street in Al-Bab.
  • One of the victims (via Al Bab 24)
  • One of the victims (via Al Bab 24)
  • One of the victims (via Al Bab 24)
  • One of the victims (via Al Bab 24)
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 Bab (Aleppo), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF3049224538
    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 February 12th-13th 2017 the Coalition publicly reported no strikes in the vicinity of Al Bab.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17 – 24
  • (3 children5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (15) [ 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

TS528

Incident date

July 22, 2022

Location

شورك, Shurak, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.03748981, 41.34373069 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were injured who were passersby to an alleged Turkish drone strike on a vehicle on Qamishli-Tirbespi Road, in Al-Hasakah, Rojava, north-east Syria on Friday July 22nd 2022.  The vehicle was reported to have been a military vehicle belonging to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).  The attack was also said to have been targeting the Military Academy in the city of Ayn al-Arab.

Three local sources reported on civilian harm, with Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reporting that “other people were injured by shrapnel while they were passing in the area.”

Three female SDF commanders were reported killed in this attack who were allegedly part of the SDF Women’s Protection Unit.  One commander, reported in media as Salwa Yusuk, but also with alternative names, Berwin Muhammed Buzan, Ciyan Afrin and Gian Tolhildan, was the leader of PKK/PYD militia.  According to sources, she was aged around 42.

The other two SDF fighters were reported in international media as Joana Hisso, aged 30, also known as Roj Khabur, and Ruha Bashar, aged 19, also known as Barin Botan.

In a tweet, the US Central Command said that Yusuk was a “critical SDF leader who led forces in combat vs ISIS since the height of the fight to defeat the vile ideology in NE Syria in 2017.” Another US military official, who remained anonymous told NBC News that “there is no doubt she saved American lives on the battlefield.”

The SDF General Commander, Mazloum Abdi, also called them “heroines who participated in the war against ISIS.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • An alleged Turkish drone hit a vehicle in Rojava on July 22nd 2022, injuring several civilians (Image via Rudaw News)
  • An alleged Turkish drone hit a suspected military vehicle in Rojava on July 22nd 2022 injuring several civilians (Image via Rohani TV)
  • An alleged Turkish drone hit a suspected military vehicle in Rojava on July 22nd 2022 injuring several civilians (Image via Rohani TV)
  • An alleged Turkish drone hit a suspected military vehicle in Rojava on July 22nd 2022 injuring several civilians (Image via Rohani TV)
  • An alleged Turkish drone hit a suspected military vehicle in Rojava on July 22nd 2022 injuring several civilians (Image via Rohani TV)
  • An alleged Turkish drone hit a vehicle in Rojava injuring civilian passerbys and reportedly three SDF militants on July 22nd 2022 (Image via Hawar News)
  • An alleged Turkish drone hit a vehicle in Rojava injuring civilian passerbys and reportedly three SDF militants on July 22nd 2022 (Image via Hawar News)
  • An alleged Turkish drone hit a vehicle in Rojava injuring civilian passerbys and reportedly three SDF militants on July 22nd 2022 (Image via North Press Agency)
  • PKK/PYD militia leader, Berwin Muhammed Buzan was allegedly killed in the Turkish drone strike in Rojava on July 22nd 2022 (Image via الخابور Alkahbour)
  • PKK/PYD militia leader, Berwin Muhammed Buzan was allegedly killed in the Turkish drone strike in Rojava on July 22nd 2022 (Image via الخابور Alkahbour)
  • PKK/PYD militia leader, Berwin Muhammed Buzan was allegedly killed in the Turkish drone strike in Rojava on July 22nd 2022 (Image via الخابور Alkahbour)
  • Three female SDF fighters were reportedly killed in a Turkish drone strike in Rojava on July 22nd 2022 (Image via ANHA عربية )
  • Salwa Yusuk, a deputy commander of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), was among three female SDF fighters killed in the strike last Friday, the officials said (Image via NBC News)
  • Three female commanders of SDF were reportedly killed in a Turkish drone strike on July 22nd 2022 (Image via NBC News)
  • Three female commanders of SDF were reportedly killed in a Turkish drone strike on July 22nd 2022, and there were reports of multiple civilian casualties (Image via The New York Post)
  • @OGNreports posted three photos, one of Berwin Muhammad Buzan, a SDF commander reportedly killed by a Turkish drone strike, and the aftermath of the attack where civilians were reported injured (Image via Twitter)
  • @OGNreports posted three photos, one of Berwin Muhammad Buzan, a SDF commander reportedly killed by a Turkish drone strike, and the aftermath of the attack where civilians were reported injured (Image via Twitter)
  • @OGNreports posted three photos, one of Berwin Muhammad Buzan, a SDF commander reportedly killed by a Turkish drone strike, and the aftermath of the attack where civilians were reported injured (Image via Twitter)
  • "Salwa Yusuk (AKA Ciyan Afrin) a Deputy Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - along with 2 fellow female fighters - was killed in an attack near Qamishli, Syria, on July 22, 2022." (@CENTCOM / Twitter)

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the vicinity of Na’amatli (نعمتلي) checkpoint, west of Shurak (شورك) village. Analysing audio-visual material from sources we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 37.03748981, 41.34373069.

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  • Imagery:
    @OGNreports

  • Imagery:
    Hawar

  • Imagery:
    ANHA

  • Imagery:
    North Press Agency

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS557

Incident date

October 3, 2022

Location

قرية تل اللبن, Tal al-Laban village, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.614167, 40.199444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Tal al-Laban in the Tel Tamr countryside on October 3, 2022.

According to Hawar News, four civilians were injured when Turkish forces bombed the village of Tal al-Laban and the injured were taken to a hospital in Tel Tamr district to receive treatment. The names of the injured as Hajj Ibrahim Muhammad al-Faqir, Qusay Musa al-Faqir, Abdul Majeed al-Faraj and Najm Abdullah Habib.

A medical source from Legation Hospital in Tel Tamr told North Press Agency that the four civilians were wounded to varying degrees of severity.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkish forces and a military source told North Press Agency that Turkey fired a barrage of artillery shells at Tal al-Laban.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hajj Ibrahim Muhammad al-Faqir
injured
Qusay Musa al-Faqir
injured

The victims were named as:

Abdul Majeed al-Faraj
Age unknown injured
Najm Abdullah Habib
Age unknown injured

Summary

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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians injured by alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Tal al-Laban on October 3, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal al-Laban village (قرية تل اللبن), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.614167, 40.199444. 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
    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 (8) [ collapse]