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

TS598

Incident date

June 3, 2023

Location

الاصيلم, Al Asilem, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.401518, 39.190418 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, including a woman, were injured by an alleged Turkish drone attack on farmland in Al Asilem village, near the M4 road and north of Raqqa on June 3, 2023.

Hawar News reported that a 35 year old woman named Houriya Ayed Al-Daher and her 45 year old husband named Hussein Hammoud Al-Muhammad were injured in the attack when working on farmland and taken to hospital to receive treatment. Additional local sources provided similar casualty information, attributing the drone strikes to Turkish drones, with multiple sources referring to “explosive-laden drones.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hussein Hammoud Al-Muhammad
45 years old male injured
Houriya Ayed Al-Daher
35 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Hussein Hammoud Al-Muhammad, 45 years old, injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on June 3, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Asilem (الاصيلم), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.401518, 39.190418. 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, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS626

Incident date

August 25, 2023

Location

قرية البركة, Al Baraka village, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 25 August 2023, a man and wife and their child were reportedly injured by a ‘terrorist’ mortar missile in the village of Al-Baraka, located in the north-western Hama countryside.

A Facebook post by a correspondent for Al Ghab valley in Hama reported that the injured child is 6 months old and that the family were transferred to a hospital in Hama in serious condition.

The source added that the mortar shells were launched by ‘terrorist groups’. This incident was among multiple which occurred on the same day, with other sources attributing similar incidents on this day to “Luwaa Uthman Ibn Affan” which is one of the formations of HTS (Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham) and has been associated with Turkish forces.

No other sources were found reporting on this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–1
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–1
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS674

Incident date

December 28, 2023

Location

مركز غسيل الكلى, Dialysis Centre, Al Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.054172, 41.262636 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On December 28th, 2023, a 65 year-old kidney patient identified as Ahmed Abd al-Rahman Khadr reportedly died as he could not access treatment, following the reported destruction three days earlier of a dialysis center hit by alleged Turkish air or drone strikes in Qamishlo city.

Rojava TV and Ibrahim Sheikho described Ahmed Abd al-Rahman Khadr as a former kidney patient who had been sick for more than two years. Sources both said he was Syrian, born in 1958 in Amuda, Al-Jazira district, and died as he could not access treatment following the destruction of the dialysis center. Ibrahim Sheikho posted a picture of the alleged victim on Facebook. Rojava TV claimed that he had undergone three dialysis sessions in the last two years. It further stated that the dialysis center had prior to the attack capacity to treat 70 patients and was equipped with only one emergency room with one device to provide dialysis treatment. No information was available as to where the victim died.

Qamishlo puls on Facebook alongside other sources reported that on December 25th 2023, alleged Turkish bombing in Qamishlo resulted in putting the “only dialysis center out of service”. Al Hafel on Facebook posted a video showing the damage to the building and piles of rubble – the source further claimed that the Syrian Democratic Forces are using hospitals and schools, such as the dialysis center, as “headquarters”, and that these buildings are hit by alleged Turkish drone strikes. Multiple sources reported that the oxygen plant in Qamishlo was also destroyed by alleged Turkish strikes on December 25th, 2023.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Abd al-Rahman Khadr أحمد عبد الرحمن خضر
65 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Denial of access to/destruction of objects indispensable to survival
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Impact
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Source: Qamishlo puls
  • Source: Ibrahim Sheikho
  • Source: Ibrahim Sheikho
  • Source: Ibrahim Sheikho
  • Source: Ibrahim Sheikho

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an alleged strike on the Dialysis Centre (مركز غسيل الكلى), to the east of Qamishli (ٱلْقَامِشْلِي). As there is no information available as to where the victim died, the location accuracy for this incident is set to “nearby landmark”. The generic coordinates for the Dialysis Centre are: 37.054172, 41.262636.

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 infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Denial of access to/destruction of objects indispensable to survival
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Impact
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS021

Incident date

December 12, 2016

Location

البزاعة, Al Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

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

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

There are no other known details available at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Baza’a (البزاعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.3829071, 37.56666. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS064

Incident date

January 27, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

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

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

There are currently no further details available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS333 TS005a

Incident date

October 8, 2016

Location

دويبق, Dabiq, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5643925, 37.2749805 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twelve to 14 civilians, including up to seven children and five women, were killed in air raids on the village of Dabiq in Aleppo governorate, according to local reports. It was alleged that both the Coalition and Turkey were responsible.

The Syrian Network reported “at least 8 civilians died in International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Al Dabiq village in Aleppo governorate.” Halab Today TV, citing activists, reported that 12 civilians had been killed and others injured “following the targeting by international coalition planes.”

Sky News Arabia also reported a figure of “at least” 10 civilians, which it said were from “the same family,” and it blamed the bombardment on the international coalition – as did Hara FM which added that 23 people were injured. It described raids in residential areas that destroyed five houses, which killed “eight civilians from one family, most of them children and two from a second family” and said eight people had been transferred to Al Bab due to injuries, most of them critical.

However, the Syrian Observatory assigned blame to Turkey and put the death toll at 9 members from the same family. It said the victims were “an elderly man, 3 citizen women and 5 children” and added that others were injured and the death toll was expected to rise as some were in a “critical situation.”

In their May 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mahmoud Fara
Age unknown male killed
Mahmoud Fara's wife
Age unknown female killed

Family members (6)

Sheikho Imam's wife
Age unknown female killed
Sheikho Imam's wife
Age unknown female killed
Sheikho Imam' child 1
Child killed
Sheikho Imam' child 2
Child killed
Sheikho Imam' child 3
Child killed
Sheikho Imam' child 4
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 14
  • (4–7 children4–5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Dabiq (دويبق), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.5643925, 37.2749805. 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
    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
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA456479
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020

  • Oct. 8, 2016, in Dabiq, Syria via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3068/CS333 37SCA456479

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 7th-8th 2016 the Coalition reported strikes in Aleppo governorate: “Near Mar’a, one strike damaged an ISIL VBIED facility. Near Washiyah, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL-held building and a command and control node.”

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 14
  • (4–7 children4–5 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    23
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS482

Incident date

December 30, 2021

Location

زركان, Zarkan, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.846934, 40.331261 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

36.776363, 40.130898 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and five civilians, including up to two women and three children, were killed and up to 12 others, including women and children, were injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Zarkan ( Abu Rassein) on December 30, 2021.

According to the Hawar News Agency, three civilians, Jamala Musa Al-Nahar, Jawaher Musa Al-Nahar, and the two-year-old child Allam Ali Al-Issa, were killed and five others were injured in a Turkish bombing of Zarkan. Turkey Now put the number of injured at four.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Jamala and Jawaher were sisters and Allam was the two year old child of Jawaher. North Press Agency identified Jamala as being an employee in the municipality of Al-Asadiya village. All were killed in artillery and missile shelling and in addition to the injury of five civilians, two members of the Syrian Democratic Forces were injured. The shelling allegedly struck a mosque in the town of Zarkan as well.

RT identified the three people killed as being “a man, a woman and a child”, adding that the strikes resulted in “the collapse of part of the Great Mosque in the town, and damage to some houses and public and private properties”. A video posted by RT also shows the moment the strikes hit the mosque.

A Facebook post from “News of the eastern region and the island” (أخبار المنطقة الشرقية والجزيرة) added the names of two others killed as: Muhammad Issa Omar’s child and baby Aladdin Nasser, in addition to the name of a civilian injured: Muhammed Khalaf.

Kurdistan24 gave a similar death toll on the low end of reports, a woman and a child killed, but added that 12 others, including women and children, were injured. Following the strikes, there was a large displacement of citizens fleeing the area on foot or on motorbikes because they feared being targeted if they used cars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Jawaher Musa Al-Nahar جواهر موسى النهار
female killed
Jamala Musa Al-Nahar جمالة موسى النهار
female killed
Allam Ali Al-Issa علام علي العيسى
2 years old killed

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Issa Omar's child
Child killed
Baby Aladdin Nasser
Child killed
Muhammed Khalaf
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1–3 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • One of the victims of alleged Turkish strikes on Zarkan December 30, 2021. (Image posted by News of the eastern region and the island)
  • Damage from alleged Turkish strikes on Zarkan December 30, 2021. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the Great Mosque (الجامع الكبير) in the town of Zarkan (زركان), and on the village of Al Asadiya (الاسدية). The generic coordinates for the mosque are: 36.846934, 40.331261. The generic coordinates for Al Asadiya are: 36.776363, 40.130898. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the locations further.

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Great Mosque \n الجامع الكبير","label-type":"black-white"},"geometry":{"type":"Point","coordinates":[40.331261,36.846934]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Al Asadiya \n الاسدية","label-type":"black-white"},"geometry":{"type":"Point","coordinates":[40.130898,36.776363]}}]}

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
    3 – 5
  • (1–3 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS517

Incident date

June 7, 2022

Location

ابين, Abin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.465074, 36.995558 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a woman, was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Abin on June 7, 2022.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a woman who was displaced from Afrin was injured when Turkish forces fired over 15 heavy artillery shells at Abin village, in addition to the damage of several civilians’ houses.

A local source told North-Press, “The injured woman, Naderat Zakaria (27 years), was hit by shrapnel in her forearms, in addition to material damage to the house of Abdel Salam Mustafa and Ahmed Abdo, who are residents of the village.” Afrin Post added that she was “slightly injured” and that the shell had fallen on her home.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkish forces, and Afrin Post specified that the shelling was carried out by Turkish forces stationed in the villages of Gilbery and Merimin in the Shirawa district.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Naderat Zakaria ندرت زكريا
27 years old female 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
    Electromagnetic 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 (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Abin (ابين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.465074, 36.995558. 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
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Electromagnetic 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 (3) [ collapse]