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

TS607

Incident date

July 4, 2023

Location

تديل, Tadil, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.165062, 36.887472 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 4 July 2023, a family of four, including a mother and two girls, were killed and another civilian was injured by an artillery strike in the village of Tadil in the town of Urm al-Kubra, which is located in the countryside of Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights released a statement that said the family were killed as a result of artillery shelling by the Turkish-backed factions of the (Al-Fateh Al-Mubin) operations room.

According to state-run news agency, SANA, a mother, her two daughters, and their uncle were killed and the husband was wounded by the missiles. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a father, and mother, and two little girls were killed by the shelling of their home.

SANA added that the strike caused material damage to homes and property in the area which is controlled by government forces. The town of Uram al-Kubra witnessed artillery shelling between regime sources and factions of the Al-Fateh Al-Mubin Operations in the early hours of the morning. The area is a de-escalation zone subject to the ceasefire agreement of Turkey and Russia signed in March 2020.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the artillery shelling to the factions of the Al-Fateh Al Mubin Operations room, with Roz Press specifying that this is a Turkish-backed faction. A Facebook post by Vito Press specified that rocket-propelled grenades were used in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by زين برس - Zein Press)
  • Munition from shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by زين برس - Zein Press)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tadil (تديل), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.165062, 36.887472. 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
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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

TS631

Incident date

September 21, 2023

Location

قرية صفاوية, Safawiyah village, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

A civilian was injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the village of Safawiyah on September 21, 2023.

Hawar News reported that a citizen named Qaban Aziz Al-Khalil (29 years old) was injured and transferred to Al-Raqqa Hospital to receive treatment when a Turkish drone bombed the village of Safawiyah.

BasNews reported that a Turkish drone bombed a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) military point, resulting in casualties, including a civilian. The source specified that number of fighters were killed, including prominent officials.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Qaban Aziz Al-Khalil قبن عزيز الخليل
29 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Qaban Aziz Al-Khalil (29 years old), injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the village of Safawiyah on September 21, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS049

Incident date

January 13, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

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

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

There are no other details avalible at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Mohammad al Hussein al Assfour
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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

Geolocation notes

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

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS087

Incident date

July 3, 2017

Location

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

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

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

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

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

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

Rok Online said that those injured included an elderly woman.

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

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

40 years old female injured

Summary

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

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

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

Geolocation notes

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS410 TS019

Incident date

December 9, 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

At least thirteen civilians were reported killed and eight injured in either a Turkish or Coalition airstrike on al Bab. The Coalition later denied responsibility.

Al Jazeera – citing ISIS – said two families were among 13 dead civilians after multiple “Turkish airstrikes” on the city. The Syrian Observatory said that “no less than 12 civilians from three families were killed while others were wounded by Turkish airstrikes and bombardment by Turkish forces and al-Furat Shield forces targeted al-Bab city which is taken over by IS, including a man with his wife and 3 of their children in addition to another man from the same family, with his wife and 2 of their children, in addition to 2 children with their mother, the number of the dead is likely to rise.”

Shaam News placed the death toll at 20.

Almost all sources blamed Turkey. However LCCSY (which had claimed Turkey was not killing civilians in its actions in northern Syria) said the US-led Coalition was instead responsible. The Syrian Network also blamed the Coalition.

Halaab News (which blamed the Coalition) named the civilian victims.

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.’

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (9)

Adult male killed
Adult female killed
Child female killed
Child female killed
Adult male killed
Adult female killed
Child female killed
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Child male killed
Child male killed
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 20
  • (7 children4 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Jisr TV reports in tense 'Turkish air and artillery' shelling on the city of al Bab in preparation for a rebel attack. 9th December 2016

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 8th-9th 2016, the Coalition publicly reported no strikes in Aleppo governorate.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 20
  • (7 children4 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS495

Incident date

February 28, 2022

Location

قرية التوخار, Al Tafkhar village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.639318, 37.980547 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Al Tafkhar on February 28, 2022.

Hawar News reported that a civilian was injured by Turkish shelling on the village of Al Tafkhar. The media center of the Manbij Military Council said that the Turkish forces struck at exactly 8:00 this morning the inhabited village of Al Tafkhar, located north of the city of Manbij, with 7 mortar shells, “which led to the injury of a civilian.”

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that the shelling resulted in material damage to civilians’ property. A local source told North Press that “the bombing also targeted the house of Kafi Al-Jassem (35 years), a resident of the village, without mentioning additional information.”

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkish forces and North Press Agency identified the shelling as coming from the Turkish base overlooking the village of Al-Tokhar Al-Kabeer and Al-Waqa’a, at the northwestern edge of the village.

The incident occured at 08:00:00 local time.

Summary

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

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the village of Al Tafkhar (التوخار), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.639318, 37.980547. 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
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS520

Incident date

June 27, 2022

Location

تل اللبن, Tal Al Laban, Al Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.614291, 40.199682 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One person was reported killed in a Turkish drone strike on Tal al-Laban, Tal Tamr, in the north-west of Al-Hasakah, Syria, on June 27th 2022.  It is unclear whether this was a belligerent or civilian. Despite having limited reports of this attack, some indicate that the person injured was a “citizen” and others mention that he was a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Turkish drone targeted a military post where Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Tel Tamr Military Council forces were stationed and that one SDF member was transferred to a field hospital for treatment.

There is no further detail of the person injured at this time and any new information will be updated to this assessment.

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 – 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal Al Laban (تل اللبن), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.614291, 40.199682. 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS550

Incident date

August 19, 2022

Location

شيموك, Shamouka, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.583348, 40.568733 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five girls were killed and at least 11 others, mostly children, were injured when an alleged Turkish drone struck an educational facility in Shimoke village on August 19, 2022.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that four girls under the age of 18 were killed and 11 others were injured in Turkish drone strikes that hit a center called the “Girls Center” that is 45 kilometers from the Syria-Turkey border. SOHR noted that the center is for girls who had been recruited by “Al-Shabiba Al-Thawriyah” (the Revolutionary Youth) and were being rehabilitated and returned back to their families by the SDF. A female commander of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) was visiting the center at the time of the strike.

Hawar News Agency provided the names of the four girls killed: Rania Atta, Zozan Zeidan, Dylan Ezz El Din, and Diana Alo. Jerusalem Post reported that the girls were born between 2002 and 2004 and quoted North Press who noted that “eyewitnesses reported at the time that ambulances transported many of the injured to hospitals in al-Hasakah.”

On September 5th, Hawar News reported that the child Slava Ramadan died from the wounds she sustained during the attack on the educational center.

The Mirror spoke with two of the girls that were at the school when the drone struck. “Renda Bakr, 17, and Novin Ezzat, 18 heard the buzz of the unmanned craft but, after that, it was all a blur of screams and blood…The first sound of trouble was the whirring of a reconnaissance drone, prowling the sky and poised to rain hell on innocent civilians. “There was so much fear, witnessing our friends being covered in blood, being burned, calling for their mums and suffering in pain. It was awful,” said Ms Bakr. “I don’t even have time to think or process what was going on, I was too scared to even comprehend what was going on.” Ms Bakr and Ms Ezzat loved school and loved their friends, but now living there is tarnished by the memories of the attack. Their injuries were much less worse than others, so they bundled people into makeshift ambulances and went to the hospital….”We heard a drone and suddenly it attacked us. There was blood all over the place and we kept hearing explosives and piercing screams”, says Ms Ezzat, who now has shrapnel stuck in her leg.”

@PopularFront_ tweeted that the girls that were killed were reportedly playing volleyball in the center’s courtyard when the drone struck. A tweet from @Awayen1 put the number of people injured at 17.

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria released a statement condemning the attack that resulted in the death of four children and the injury of 11 girls, in addition to pointing our that the “girls learning center” is sponsored by the United Nations.

The Mirror reported that “the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Mr Imran Riza, the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Mr Muhannad Hadi and the UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Ms Adele Khodr expressed their “deep concern” on Saturday about the continuing escalation of hostilities in northern Syria.”

Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve Commander Maj. Gen. John Brennan released a statement that “On the evening of Aug. 18, an armed unmanned aerial system struck a group of teenaged girls playing volleyball who were active in a United Nations educational outreach program in Hasakah. Initial reports indicate that the strike killed four and wounded several others. On behalf of CJTF-OIR, I condemn this attack and any others that kill and injure civilians.” The statement also went on to call for “immediate de-escalation from all parties and an end to activities that put at risk the significant battlefield gains the Coalition has made against ISIS.” A security source told North Press that a patrol of the Coalition was conducted in the spot of the attack earlier.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Rania Atta رانيا عطا
Child female killed
Zozan Zeidan وزوزان زيدان
Child female killed
Dylan Ezz El Din وديلان عز الدين
Child female killed
Diana Alo وديانا علو
Child female killed
Renda Bakr
17 years old female injured
Novin Ezzat
18 years old female injured
Slava Ramadan سلافا رمضان
Child female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–17
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • Image of the four girls killed in alleged Turkish strikes on an education center in Hassakah on August 19, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News Agency)
  • Image of the four girls killed in alleged Turkish strikes on an education center in Hassakah on August 19, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw)
  • Residents of Manbij attend the funeral of the girls killed by a drone (Image posted by The Mirror)
  • Zozan Zedan laid to rest in her hometown Manbij (Image posted by The Mirror)
  • Ranya Eta, Dilan Ezedin, Zozan Zedan and Diyana Elo died and the clinic is still caring for 11 injured students (Image posted by The Mirror)
  • Funeral for the four girls who were killed by a drone strike in Hassakah (Image posted by @PopularFront_)
  • Funeral for the four girls who were killed by a drone strike in Hassakah (Image posted by @PopularFront_)
  • Funeral for the four girls who were killed by a drone strike in Hassakah (Image posted by @PopularFront_)
  • Funeral for the four girls who were killed by a drone strike in Hassakah (Image posted by @PopularFront_)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Shamouka (شيموك), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.583348, 40.568733. 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
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–17
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]