Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident Code

TS135

Incident date

January 28, 2018

Location

كوبلة, Kobla village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.483495, 36.933987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between fourteen and seventeen named civilians from one family died in alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, according to local media. A further seven or more people were injured.

Afrin Now published a very graphic video depicting “cruel scenes of the victims of the massacre of the village of Kobla in the countryside of Afrin, as a result of Turkish shelling of the village”.

According to the source Rumaf, “thirteen people from one family were killed, leaving only four people alive (the father, the eldest son and his two young daughters).

Afrin Now, also naming the above, added that there were three other victims who had not been identified.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmud Kano
Adult male killed
Hassan Kano
13 years old male killed
Hussein Kano
Adult male killed
Hanadi Kano
17 years old female killed
Amira Kano
17 years old female killed
Kamal Kano
7 months years old male killed
Fatima abd Rabuh
40 years old female wife of Abdullah killed
Rawan al Aswad
20 years old female from Tal A’jjar Kana, the daughter in law of Abdulla killed
Jouriya Kino
45 years old female killed
Hussein
Child male son of Abdullah killed
Ali Kano
Child male still trapped under the rubble (dead) at time of publishing killed
Mohammed Abdullah Kano
Child male killed
Sefaa Kino
7 years old female killed
Rahaf al Hussen
33 years old female killed
Abdullah Kano
50 years old male Named as wounded by Free Afrin injured
Mohammed Abdullah Kano
27 years old male Named as wounded by Free Afrin injured
Badriya Abdullah Kano
17 years old Named as wounded by Free Afrin injured
Mahmoud Abdullah Kano
6 years old male Named as wounded by Free Afrin injured
Rahaf Abdullah Kano
4 years old Named as wounded by Free Afrin injured
Abdullah Mohammed Kano
4 years old male Named as wounded by Free Afrin injured
Hosny Mohammed Kano
2 years old Named as wounded by Free Afrin injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 17
  • (6 children5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–25
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • Wounded children await medical treatment in a hospital following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via ROK)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Rojava network)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via HogirNecar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Seriously graphic footage showing random body parts and a baby with its skull half missing, following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Afrin Now)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A graphic image of a baby with its skull missing, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Free Afrin)
  • Members of the Kurdish Red Crescent search for civilians in the rubble following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • Members of the Kurdish Red Crescent search for civilians in the rubble following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • Members of the Kurdish Red Crescent search for civilians in the rubble following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018 (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • Members of the Kurdish Red Crescent search for civilians in the rubble following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualties in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via SDF)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualties in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via SDF)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualties in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via SDF)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kobla village (كوبلة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.483495, 36.933987. 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
    14 – 17
  • (6 children5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–25
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS278

Incident date

March 16, 2018

Location

عفرين, Afrin hospital, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.509672, 36.858106 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between nine and 16 civilians died in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Afrin hospital, according to local media.

Pesmerge chali put the death toll and nine, while Rumaf and other sources said that 16 civilians died – reportedly “mostly children and women”.

According to the source Aldar xelil: Avrin Hospital was the only medical facility in service. It has been hit by 3 missiles. 15 bodies have been identified, and many more are scattered all over the place.

The BBC reported on the event, quoting an Afrin resident, ‘Ranya’: “At night there were air strikes targeting Afrin hospital. There were a lot of victims there and due to the intensive shelling people cannot go to get the bodies. Some bodies are still there on the street.”

Turkey denied carrying out the strikes on the hospital. In response, the SDF issued a statement accusing “Turkish media [of] hiding the massacres the invading Turkish state has committed against the people”. ANF reported on the SDF press release, as follows:

“The Avrin Hospital was bombed by invading Turkish state fighter jets on March 16, 2018. Dozens of civilians were martyred and killed in the bombing, and the hospital where thousands of civilians receive treatment was greatly damaged.

After the bombing, the Turkish state’s official news agency the Anadolu Agency published a video that shows a building close to the hospital. With this footage they had published, the Turkish state wants to hide the fact that they bombed a hospital with fighter jets.

We declare to the public that the Avrin Hospital has been bombed by Turkish jet fighters and that the building in the footage the Turkish state had published is not the hospital building.

The bombing of the hospital has been documented with photographs and videos”.

Sana, the regime’s official media, put the death toll at 16 with “dozens” more injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 16
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • An image reveals the destruction of the building that followed alleged Turkish airstrikes on Afrin hospital. (Source: SDF Press)
  • Another image reveals the destruction of the building that followed alleged Turkish airstrikes on Afrin hospital. (Source: SDF Press)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows some injured civilians in the medical care followed Turkish airstrikes on Afrin hospital (Source: @AzadiRojava)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows some injured civilians in the medical care followed Turkish airstrikes on Afrin hospital (Source: @AzadiRojava)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows many civilians dead bodies on the flour, killed followed Turkish airstrike on Afrin hospital, Afrin (Source: @AzadiRojava)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows a man, killed followed Turkish airstrike on Afrin hospital, Afrin (Source: @AzadiRojava)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows an injured child followed Turkish airstrikes on Afrin hospital (Source: @AzadiRojava)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A video shows dead, and injured civilians followed the alleged Turkish airstrike on the Kurdish town of Afrin in northern Syria (sources : CNN)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The hospital in the aftermath of the Turkish raid. (via Aylina Kilic)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 16
  • 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 (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS057 CS455

Incident date

January 22, 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

Between six and 15 civilians died including two children and two women and 16 more were wounded in air or artillery strikes on Al Bab, Syria, according to local media – though it was unclear whether Turkey or the US-led Coalition were responsible.

Al Bab 24 said that “Al Bab city was exposed to a violent artillery attack with more than 150 shells targeting the residential neighbourhoods of the city killing six people including two women and injuring 16 others.” But the source didn’t say who was to blame.

On January 22nd, LCCSY reported that there had been “15 martyrs in #Aleepo most of them killed by the Turkish bombing on #Albab city.” This figure, however, may not apply only to this one day.

However, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the Coalition was responsible. The source reported that “four civilians from the same family (2 children and their parents) died in International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Al Bab city in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs, January 22، 2017.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 15
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    16
  • 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]

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.

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

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Oct 27, 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

For January 21st-22nd the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Al Bab, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed an artillery piece, and damaged a tactical vehicle.”

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 15
  • (2 children2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    16
  • 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

TS248

Incident date

March 5, 2018

Location

فريرة, Village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.400000, 36.770556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and 15 civilians including a three-month-old baby died and up to 10 others were wounded in an alleged Turkish airstrike on the village of Freriye in Jindires, Syria, according to sources on the ground.

ANHA reported: “The Turkish occupation air force bombed the village of Freriye in Jindires, where a three-month baby and a young man martyred, in addition, eight civilians were wounded. Having reached Afrin hospital, our correspondents got the names of the martyrs and the wounded, the martyrs are two civilians; a three-month baby named Diana Gazi al-Saleh, and Mahmod Muhamad Nour al-Alo, aged 20.” These two fatalities were also named by other sources.

IC Afrin Resistance also put the death toll at two, with 10 more wounded.

However, according to SDF War Media on Facebook, four civilians died, including a baby.

However, Anatolian News Agency (AA) released footage recorded by an armed drone, that showed an explosion near a vehicle in Fireriye village in Jindires. AA claimed that the attack was carried out by YPG. ANF said: “The vehicle was carrying an Arab family who was trying to escape from the bombardment. Diyana Gazi El Saleh (3-month-old baby) and Mahmud Elo (25) were killed and Ebdulah Tirkî Dawud, Xetuce Mistefa Mistefa, Suphi Gazi El Saleh, Seyyah Cemal El Saleh and Atur El Saleh Hesen were wounded in the attack”.

“The survivors said that their vehicle was targeted by an airstrike. The family was actually trying to reach behind the Turkish lines to meet with their relatives who are among the FSA gangs.

The footage which was released by Anatolian News Agency shows two persons planting a roadside explosive device in an unidentified location. Those persons start to run after planting the device and they were hit by an airstrike afterwards.

Later the truck which carried the civilians was struck by an airstrike. At first, it doesn’t take a direct hit so the civilians jump out of the vehicle and start to run away. But they were targeted in a second airstrike.

The Turkish media claimed that the attack was carried out by YPG with a roadside explosive device but the footage shows otherwise.”

One source, ROK Online, put the death toll as high as 15.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Diana Gazi al-Saleh
3 months years old female killed
Mahmod Muhamad Nour al-Alo
20 years old male unclear whether he died i Jindires, Afrin or Village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin killed
Anwar al Saleh
15 years old injured
Mohammad Subhi al Saleh
3 years old male injured
Fouad Ghazi al Saleh
25 years old injured
Sabah Jamal al Saleh
25 years old injured
Khadija mustapha
30 years old injured
Abdallah Zaki Dawood
18 years old male injured
Diana Ghazi al Saleh
3 months years old injured
Subhi Ghazi al Saleh
30 years old injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 15
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–11
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    News footage reporting on the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike which targeted Village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Ronahi)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child grieves over a civilian casualty in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via ANF)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Kurdhr)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Diyana El Saleh, 3 months old, killed in alleged Turkish airstrike on the village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via IC Afrin resistance)
  • A wounded civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via IC Afrin resistance)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via IC Afrin resistance)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded child in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via IC Afrin resistance)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded and killed civilians in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike which targeted Village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via ANHA)
  • A wounded civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Rojava)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Diyana El Saleh, 3 months old, killed in alleged Turkish airstrike on the village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Rojava)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Diyana El Saleh, 3 months old, killed in alleged Turkish airstrike on the village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Rojava)
  • List of wounded. (via Rumaf)
  • List of wounded. (via Rumaf)
  • Footage showing the targeting of a vehicle by alleged Turkish aircraft on 5 March 2018. (via ANF)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin (فريرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.400000, 36.770556. 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
    2 – 15
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–11
  • 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 (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS028

Incident date

December 21, 2016

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

Between seven and 15 civilians, most of them apparently from one family, were reported killed in a Turkish bombardment of Al Bab, Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “the city is witnessing massive bombardment by the Turkish forces leading to the death of seven, the majority of them from one family, the number of the dead is likely to rise.”

The ISIS media propaganda outlet Al A’amaq published a similar report but said all the victims were from one family.

LCCSY and Al Bab News reported that 15 people were killed. Al Bab News added they were mostly from the Al Nako family and four of them children. In addition, one woman from the Al Masri family was reported dead.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (1)

Member of the Al Masri family
Adult female killed

Family members (4)

Member of the Al Nako family
Child killed
Member of the Al Nako family
Child killed
Member of the Al Nako family
Child killed
Member of the Al Nako family
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 15
  • (0–4 children0–1 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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]

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
    7 – 15
  • (0–4 children0–1 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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

CS416 TS024

Incident date

December 16, 2016

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

Between eleven and 15 civilians were reported killed in a Turkish (or less likely Coalition) action at al Bab.

According to LCCSY eleven civilians died, “most of them killed in Coalition raids on al Bab.”However, the source had consistently denied civilian harm from Turkish actions during the al-Bab campaign.

Al Bab News reported “more than 15 dead most of them women and children and dozens injured as a result of the bombardment on al Bab yesterday. There are families still under the rubble and the rescue operations are underway.”

However ISIS’s media wing reported “intense raids with more than 15 Turkish air raids and 180 shells falling on al Bab in the Aleppo countryside since dawn today.” And the Syrian Observatory reported that “Turkish warplanes bombed areas on the outskirts of al-Bab city which is under the control of the “Islamic State” northeast of Aleppo province, amid clashes in several places in the area between members of the organisation against the factions of Euphrates Shield supported by Turkish forces, which caused casualties.”

The Syrian Network suggested Free Syrian Army (FSA) or Turkish artillery may also have been responsible: “Three civilians from the same family including a child died in Der’ Al Furat forces, supported by Turkish forces, artillery fired shells on Al Bab city in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs, December 16, 2016.”

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials said the event was presently assessed as ‘Not credible for Coalition caused civcas.’

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 15
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Khaled Shaban reports more than 150 shells fired and 15 air raids targeting al Bab allegedly by Turkish forces and allied militias since dawn. 16th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)
  • Jahra online reports Turkish army declarations that they had destroyed 60 Daesh targets near al Bab amid accusations of killing civilians. 16th December 2016. (via Jahra)

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.

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, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017
  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

For December 15th-17th 2016 the Coalition has publicly reported no strikes in the vicinity.

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original

For December 14th to 20th, France reports 10 strikes: 8 in Iraq – 7 of which were in Mosul – and 2 in Syria. They reported that 16 targets were destroyed.

#Chammal : 10 frappes contre Daech en Irak et en Syrie cette semaine, 16 objectifs détruits.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 15
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (7) [ 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

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

TS247

Incident date

March 5, 2018

Location

جنديرس,عفرين , Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.391667, 36.693056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 15 civilians including two or three children and five women died and up to 32 more were injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes in Jindires, Syria, local media said. However, it is possible that reports are referring to several events in Jindires, and may include T131-T133, listed above. Moreover, several sources published images which appeared to pertain to these other incidents, suggesting that the figures provided were a summary of events during the entire day of March 5th.

The source Cahida Dersim referred to a Turkish shelling of the village of Miska Jorin, and went on to say that 13 civilians including three children had died in Jindires on march 5th.

Other reports also referred to “Jindires”, rather than Miska Jorin or any other location specifically.

IC Afrin resistance, for example, reported that “Turkish warplanes bombed the center of Jindires. Civilians were injured and killed. There are still people under the ruins. They can’t be freed because the attacks are still ongoing”.

However, there was some confusion in tweets by IC Afrin Resistance: the first said that 13 civilians were wounded in Jindires, while the second said that 13 (including three children) were killed.

Hawar News published a video (below) depicting the shelling. It reported that “preliminary reports said that there were martyrs and wounded among civilians, but because of the intensive shelling we did not get the number of martyrs and wounded.”

One victim killed in Jindires was named by Arin Chikhmous as Mohammed Alo, 20 years.

According to ANHA, “in the morning hours, the Turkish occupation army bombed the center of Janders city with more than 20 booby-trapped barrels, directly targeting unarmed civilians in the district center causing the martyrdom of 13 civilians, including 3 children and 5 women, and injuring more than 14 civilians.”

Rok Online put the death toll higher. It said: “The Turkish forces carried out a massacre in the area of Jendiris on Monday [March 5th] after launching violent raids on the region, killing 15 people and wounding about 8 others, including children and women, in addition to the destruction of buildings and shops.

SDF military media on Facebook reported that “after the failure of the Turkish occupation army to break into the region of Jendrissa, Turkish warplanes carried out crazy raids on the civilian neighborhoods, causing four massacres in one day.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Alo
20 years old male unclear whether he died i Jindires, Afrin or Village of Freriye, Jindires, Afrin killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 13
  • (2–3 children5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–32
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath in the city of Jonderes, Afrina, after reportedly being hit by Turkish strikes on 5 March, 2018 (via Evlyn hassan)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrikes on Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Afrin Resistance)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrikes on Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Cahida Dersim)
  • Just moments after the alleged Turkish airstrikes on Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Hawar news)
  • A wounded civilian in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrikes on Jindires, Afrin, 5th March 2018. (via Yikiti)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jindires, Afrin (جنديرس,عفرين ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.391667, 36.693056. 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 – 13
  • (2–3 children5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–32
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (24) [ collapse]