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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Turkish Military
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Incident Code

TS574

Incident date

November 23, 2022

Location

دوار القرموطي, Al-Qarmouti square. al-Gharbi neighborhood,.Qamishli., Hasakeh, Syria

Airwars assessment

On November 23th, 2022, between one to two civilians were reportedly killed and another one injured by a Turkish drone targeting a truck at Al-Qarmouti roundabout (also referred to as “Al-Hilalia roundabout”) in Qamishli city in the evening. According to local sources, the truck was completely destroyed by the strike.

Sources identified the civilian injured as the Mayor of Himo village, Hassan Majdin, 45 years old. He was taken to a hospital in Qamishli for treatment. A medical source said that his injuries were minor, while another source claimed he was “seriously wounded”.

Local sources reported conflicted information regarding the number of casualties. Sources either claimed that the strike wounded or killed SDF leader “Rizan Kalo” who was inside the vehicle when the attack was conducted. SOHR claimed that the driver of the truck, whose identity was not disclosed, was killed, while “Rizan Kahlo” and another person was injured in the bombing. One local source quoting Russian-owned media Sputnik mentionned that “Rizan Kalo” was killed along with “two of his companions”, without precising if those were also SDF militants.  Al-Araby Al-Jadeed correspondent claimed that the attack killed two people, without further precisions, and injured two others, the wounded being identified as Hassan Majdin and Rizan Kalo.

 

 

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Majdin حسن مجدين
45 years old male Mayor of Himo village injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • 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 target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • On November 23th 2022, in Qamishli city, a reported Turkish drone strike hit and destroyed a vehicle. Photo: SOHR

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    On November 23rd 2022 in Qamishli city, one civilian was injured and between one to two others killed following a reported Turkish drone strike in Qamishli city. Photo: Qamishli now
  • SDF leader "Rizan Kalo" reportedly injured in a Turkish drone strike targeting a truck in Qamishli city on November 23rd 2022. Photo: صفحة كوردستان الكبرى G K P
  • On November 23rd 2022, an alleged Turkish drone strike hit a truck in Al-Qarmouti roundabout in Qamishli city. Photo: NPA
  • SDF leader "Rizan Kalo's family denied news that "Rizan Kalo" died following a reported Turkish strike on a vehicle on November 23rd 2022. Photo: وكالة روج نيوز المستقلة للأخبار

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • 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 target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS608

Incident date

July 5, 2023

Location

رأس العين, Ras al Ain, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.849005, 40.071581 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At around noon on the 5th July, 2023, two children were killed and up to seven others, including a woman and a child were injured in an alleged armed clash between two of the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions at the al-Qaws checkpoint at the entrance of the Turkish-occupied city of Ras al Ain in Hasakah.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, two children were killed and seven others, including a woman, were injured. Orient News reported that 11 year old Abdul Rahman Hamid Al-Ahmad and 14 year-old Hassan Ali Al-Obeid were allegedly killed in the incident. However, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights stated that a 9-year old was killed, whilst his mother, a child and three civilians were injured. Orient News added that five people were injured, and the injured woman was transferred to Turkey due to her critical condition.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the clashes broke out between the Sultan Murad faction and the ‘Civilian Police’ involving medium and heavy weapons. The report also indicated that the dispute broke out at the checkpoint due to the Civilian Police preventing members of the faction from crossing the border. Subsequently, reinforcements from the Civilian Police and Turkish intelligence were requested to control the situation, in accordance with a news report by the North Press.

Orient News reported that the policeman Ismail Al-Jadaan Al-Aboud was also killed in addition to the two children, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that three members of the military police, including a minor, were killed and two members of the Sultan Murad faction were injured, and were taken to Turkish hospitals because of their critical injuries.

The majority of the sources noted that both the Sultan Murad faction and the ‘Civilian Police’ are both Turkish-backed militias operating in Syria. However, it is unclear which militia was responsible for the civilian casualties.

The incident occured at approximately 12:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahman Hamid Al-Ahmad
11 years old killed
Hassan Ali Al-Obeid
14 years old killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ras al Ain (رأس العين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.849005, 40.071581. 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
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS642

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Location

مدينة نبل, Nubul, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 5 October 2023, a civilian was killed and “dozens” of others were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of the city of Nubul.

Fox Press reported that a civilian was killed and several others were injured when Turkish forces and their factions allegedly shelled the city of Nubul at dawn. According to Nubul City News, the man who was killed was 50 years old – he was returning home when he was killed, and Aleppo News identified the man as “retired Colonel Younis Younis“.

Press News reported that “dozens” of civilians were wounded by the shelling.

Images posted by Nubul News show the significant material damage caused by the shelling.

Nubul City posted that the Younes Younes was buried at the Martyrs’ Cemetery and condolences would occur at Imam Zain Al-Abidin Mosque, Eastern District

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Younis Younis يونس يونس
50 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Press News facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS149

Incident date

February 2, 2018

Location

بلبلة, Bulbul, Afrin, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.770899, 36.818318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a report shared with Airwars, the Kurdish Red Crescent named one civilian as wounded in Bulbul, Syria.

The victim was listed as “Sharfan Subhi Ali, 27, ankle injury”.

The weapon used has not been reported.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sharfan Subhi Ali
27 years old male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 village of Bulbul, Afrin, Aleppo (بلبلة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.770899, 36.818318. 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
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS180

Incident date

February 10, 2018

Location

بلبلة, Bulbu, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.770899, 36.818318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a private report to Airwars, the Kurdish Red Crescent named the following one civilian as wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Bulbul:

‘Tawfiq Mohammed Dado, 55, shrapnel in the left thigh’.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Tawfiq Mohammed Dado
55 years old male shrapnel to the left thigh injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

    • English
    • English

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bulbu, Afrin (بلبلة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.770899, 36.818318. 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
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

    • English
    • English

Incident Code

TS088

Incident date

July 10, 2017

Location

أحرص , Ihress, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.484167, 36.398889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Rumaf, “a whole family was seriously injured by the indiscriminate Turkish shelling of the residents of Ihress village. They were also transferred to the hospital.”

YPG Press reported: “The Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries also attacked the liberated villages in al-Shahba areas. Names of the villages are Tal Rifat, Harbal, Sheikh Issa, Ahras, Tal Madiq, Om Housh, Om al-Qura, al-Shahabiyah, Ayn Daqneh, Minag and Kafrantone. Here the occupiers used shells, missiles and heavy weapons on civilians’ houses on Monday [July 10th]. The assault resulted in killing 2 civilians and wounding other 8 civilians. among them children.” The source published an image of a boy who was missing one leg – though he was not named and it’s unclear in which location he was wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Musa Hassan
Adult male injured
his wife Jihan Kusa
Adult female injured
daughter
10 years old female injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ihress (أحرص ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.484167, 36.398889. 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
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS312

Incident date

October 11, 2019

Location

تل أبيض‎, Tal Abyad/Girê Spî, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.6975, 38.956667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two to four civilians were injured as the result of alleged Turkish army shelling on the village of Tal Abyad or Girê Spî, according to @dersi4m and ANF News.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yasser Ali Bal'u
30 years old male injured
Ahmad 'Abdul Wahab
65 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 town of Tal Abyad/Girê Spî (تل أبيض‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.6975, 38.956667. 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
    2–4
  • 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

TS345

Incident date

October 16, 2019

Location

الرافع, Al Rafi, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.387064, 38.862501 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died and four others were wounded in alleged Turkish shelling of al Rafi, Ayn Issa, according to local media.

Hawarnews reported: “A civilian who lost his life during the attacks in Al-Rafi and wounded reached Reqa Hospital. It was learned that the civilian martyr was 35-year-old Ahmad al-Abdo. Abdo is married and has four children.”

Hawar added: “The shelling of the occupation forces resulted in the death of Ahmad al-Abdo, 35, a father of four children; 14-year-old Mariam ‘Abdullah al-Jouri was also injured. Ahmed Hammoud al-‘Abd, 34, a father of two children, is currently receiving treatment. Yasmeen Mohammed al-Ali, 33, is in intensive care and is in critical condition.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad al-Abdo
35 years old male killed
Mariam 'Abdullah al-Jouri
14 years old female injured
Ahmed Hammoud al-'Abd
34 years old male injured
Yasmeen Mohammed al-Ali
33 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Rafi (الرافع), allegedly within the vicinity of Ain Issa (عين عيسى). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Ain Issa are: 36.387064, 38.862501.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]