Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

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

Belligerent
Turkish Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
250 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

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

TS052

Incident date

January 15, 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

Eight civilians including women, a child and a member of the civil defense died in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling of Al Bab, according to local sources.

Al Bab 24 reported that “Hassan Ghazi al Haj, a member of the civil defense in Al Bab died from wounds sustained in Turkish raids on the city.”

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “four civilians including a child and a woman died in a Der’ Al Furat forces- supported Turkish forces artillery shelling on Al Bab city in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Ghazi al Haj
Age unknown male named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Yahya Mohammad al Basha
Age unknown male named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Touman Hussaib family
Age unknown named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Touman Hussaib family
Age unknown named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Touman Hussaib family
Age unknown named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Touman Hussaib family
Age unknown named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Sawass family
Age unknown female named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
The wife of Ahmad Salah Qassem al Khalil
Age unknown female named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (1 child2 women2–4 men)
  • 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 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
    8
  • (1 child2 women2–4 men)
  • 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

TS090

Incident date

August 21, 2017

Location

تل رفعت, Tal Ref’at, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.473056, 37.094444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died and four more were wounded in alleged Turkish shelling of the town of Tal Ref’at, according to local media – though one report also said that the Syrian Free Army also targeted Kurdish units in the town.

Rumaf named Alia Omar Sheikh and Othman Zakaria Mustafa as killed. However, a later report by Rumaf said that Othman Zakaria Mustafa was a member of “the Asayish forces”, the Kurdish security forces. It published images showing the funeral procession.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “Turkish forces shelled areas in Tal Rifat town in the northern countryside of Aleppo, which is controlled by the Syria Democratic Forces. This resulted in the injury of four people”.

SDF press also pointed towards Turkey, reporting that “the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries stationed in the towns of Mara and Kalgberin shelled the Tel Rifaat area with shells and heavy weapons. The shelling resulted in injuries among civilians, who were taken to a hospital.”

However, Ahmad al Farouh, pro-revolution activist from Mare’e, Aleppo, said that the Syrian Free Army targeted Kurdish units in the town with “artillery and mortars” – but made no mention of civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Alia Omar Sheikh
Adult female killed
Othman Zakaria Mustafa
Adult male combatant killed
Depo Mohammed Champion
Age unknown injured
Abdul Basit Ali Sakran
Age unknown injured
Abdo Sukran
Age unknown injured
Mohammed Hassan Dibo
Age unknown injured
Mahmoud Hassan Dibo
Age unknown injured
Ghazi Rahal (refugee in the city of Tel Rifaat)
Age unknown injured
Louay Aboush (refugee)
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • An injured man recives medical treatment following an alleged Turkish or FSA airstrike. (via SDF)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Turkish or FSA airstrike. (via SDF)
  • Funeral procession of the victim. (via Rumaf)
  • Funeral procession of the victim. (via Rumaf)
  • Funeral procession of the victim. (via Rumaf)
  • Funeral procession of the victim. (via Rumaf)
  • Funeral procession of the victim. (via Rumaf)
  • Funeral procession of the victim. (via Rumaf)
  • Funeral procession of the victim. (via Rumaf)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tal Ref’at ( تل رفعت), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.473056, 37.094444. 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

Free Syrian Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Free Syrian Army
  • Free Syrian Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS498 TS081

Incident date

February 16, 2017

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between 18 and 50 civilians died in an airstrike on Al Bab, according to local sources. While the Syrian Network for Human Rights, reported that ten civilians including two children and four women died in an alleged Coalition airstrie, other sources blamed Tiurkey.

A second report by SN4HR said that “International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on the makeshift hospital in Al Bab city in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs, severely damaging its building and rendering it inoperable”.

However, Syria News Desk reported that the “Turkish army targeted the eastern neighborhoods in al Bab with several air strikes and artillery shells, resulting in deaths of 23 civilians, including children”.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “Ibrahim Adel Al Shehabi, a dentist, died along with his children in Der’ Al Furat forces artillery (supported by Turkish forces) shells fired on Al Bab city.”

They also reported the death of three civilians from the same family including a woman.

The Syrian Observatory also attributed the incident to Turkey, reporting that “a massacre was carried out by the Turkish forces, it is not the first one, and may not be the last, but it is a ring in a long series of massacres committed in al-Bab city. This time the victims of the massacre were 10 civilians from two families. They are a doctor and two of his sons under the age of 18, in addition to three men and three women and a child under the age of 18 from the same family. All of them were killed in the continuous Turkish artillery shelling and aerial bombardment on al-Bab city”.

Syria News Desk said that 23 or 25 civilians died from Turkish shelling.

France 24 wrote that 34 civilians were killed, 17 of them children.

Hara FM quoted the ISIS propaganda outlet Al A’amaq who gave the highest death toll at 50.

Al Jazeera did not mention civilian harm but said 77 targets in Al Bab were hit by the Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ibrahim Adel al Shihabi
Adult male killed
Sahib Ibrahim al Shihabi
Age unknown male killed
Hathifa Ibrahim al Shihabi
Age unknown male killed

Family members (10)

Adnan Ibrahim Falaha
Age unknown male killed
Adnan Ibrahim Falaha's sister
Age unknown female killed
Adnan Ibrahim Falaha's wife
Age unknown female killed
Hamdo Ibrahim Falaha's wife
Age unknown female killed
Ibrahim Hamdo al Falaha
Age unknown male killed
Ibrahim Hamdo al Falaha's wife
Age unknown female killed
Adnan Hamdo al Falaha
Child male killed
Saad Hamdo al Falaha
Child male killed
Adnan Ibrahim Falaha
Age unknown male killed
Mutassam Ibrahim Falaha
Age unknown male killed

Family members (3)

Saleh Dib al Shirkat
Age unknown male killed
Jihad Saleh Dib al Shirkat
Age unknown male killed
Saleh mohammad Dib al Shirkat's wife
Age unknown female killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Mahmoud al Baki
Age unknown male killed
Abd al Basset Kadro al Dibo
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18 – 50
  • (2 children5 women)
  • 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]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    'A’maq: 50 civilian martyrs by shelling on the door of the eastern suburb of Aleppo'
  • 'Photos of the city # of al bab of the eastern end of the mountain shows clear smoke poles in the city because of the clashes and shelling currently underway, and there is no truth to the news that the city is liberated or free of civilians.' (via Al bab city and its neighbourhood coordination)
  • 'Photos of the city # of al bab of the eastern end of the mountain shows clear smoke poles in the city because of the clashes and shelling currently underway, and there is no truth to the news that the city is liberated or free of civilians.' (via Al bab city and its neighbourhood coordination)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al-Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.5179666. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Bab (Aleppo), Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    1 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV5821365352
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 29, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 16th-17th, the Coalition reported: “Near Al Bab, one strike destroyed a decoy 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
    18 – 50
  • (2 children5 women)
  • 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

TS516

Incident date

June 5, 2022

Location

عين عيسى, Abu Naytulah, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.4537, 38.72317 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three men were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Abu Naytulah in Ain Issa on June 5, 2022.

Hawar News reported that three civilians were injured in Turkish shelling of the village of Abu Naytulah in Ain Issa. The source added that the injured were transferred to the Chalabiye district to receive treatment. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the injured civilians were treated at Jalabiyah hospital “while the village is still under intermittent ground shelling”.

Ain Issa Plus posted the names of the victims on Facebook: Abdulaziz Al-Youssef, Saleh Taha, Basil Al-Obaid.

A medical source from the hospital told North Press Agency that “the condition of the three people is stable after providing treatment and first aid being given to them”.

Hawar News added details that the village of of Abu Neitouneh “lies to the west of the Ain Issa district on the strategically important Aleppo-Hasaka highway known as the M4”.

A local source told Bissan FM that “the village was subjected to heavy bombardment by the Turkish forces and the opposition factions loyal to them”. All of the other sources attributed the strikes to Turkey and the Syrian National Army.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Abdulaziz Al-Youssef عبد العزيز اليوسف
Age unknown injured
Saleh Taha صالح طه
Age unknown injured
Basil Al-Obaid باسل العبيد
Age unknown injured

Summary

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

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of the three civilians that were injured when Turkey shelled the village of Abu Neitouneh on June 5, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Abu Naytulah (أبو نيتولة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.4537, 38.72317. 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
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS546

Incident date

August 16, 2022

Location

قرية زورافا, Zorava village, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

A child was killed and up to seven others, including two children and a woman, were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the city of Kobani and surrounding villages on August 16, 2022.

The Internal Security Forces in North and East Syria (Asayish) reported that artillery shelling of the city of Kobani resulted in the death of a 14 year old child and the injury of five civilians, including a woman and a child. The statement also pointed out that the shelling affected vital and service facilities.

According to Hawar News Agency, the child that was killed is Abid Muhammed Haji and the civilians injured in Kobane are aged between two and 40 years old. Hawar also specified the names of those injured: Abid Khalaf (40), Marwa Hamdo (40) from Seftik village, 2-year old child named Khalil Jihad Sheikho, and Ala Ibo (19). North Press Agency reported that at least two of the injured civilians were taken to Al-Amal Hospital.

A tweet from @Mustafa_Alali2 identified three people as being injured in addition to the child that was killed while Medya News reported that two civilians were hospitalized with severe injuries. The highest casualty count was that seven civilians were injured, including a woman and two children, provided by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which potentially includes injuries from other incidents that occurred in Syria on the same day.

Media News quoted North Press who stated that five high explosive shells hit the neighborhood of Martyr Batman in Kobane in addition to other villages in the western countryside of the city.

Reuters reported that the shelling started overnight and intensified throughout the day, according to residents and the local administration. Dilvin, a shopkeeper and married mother of one, said chaos broke out in Kobane during the shelling: “People started running everywhere, cars everywhere, people asking about their friends and their family. Then the sounds started to build, the sounds were everywhere. There was so much screaming. So much fear. Now everyone is locked up at home.”

The majority of sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abid Khalaf عبد خلف
40 years old injured
Marwa Hamdo مروى حمدو
40 years old from Seftik village injured
Khalil Jihad Sheikho
2 years old injured
Ala Ibo
19 years old injured
Abid Muhammed Haji عبد محمد حجي
12 years old killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

  • Destruction caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Kobane on August 16, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • One of the civilians injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Kobane on August 16, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Kobane on August 16, 2022. (Image posted by @Mustafa_Alali2)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Kobane on August 16, 2022. (Image posted by @Mustafa_Alali2)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Kobane on August 16, 2022. (Image posted by @farhad_shami)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child killed in alleged Turkish shelling of Kobane on August 16, 2022. (Image posted by @farhad_shami)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of civilian victims of alleged Turkish shelling of Kobane on August 16, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child killed in alleged Turkish shelling of Kobane on August 16, 2022. (Image posted by Kamishli - Qamişlo via Facebook)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–7
  • 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]

Incident Code

TS586

Incident date

January 19, 2023

Location

رميلان, Rumailan, Al Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.006190, 41.950519 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A SDF fighter was killed and another person, either another SDF fighter or a civilian, was injured in alleged Turkish drone strikes in the city of Rumailan on January 19, 2023.

A Facebook post by قامشلو الحدث Qamislo reported that a young man named Muhammad Diaa al-Din Hajji Muhammad was killed in the attack close to his wedding day. A Facebook post by the cousin of the victim named Alan Basho stated that the victim’s name was Rojhat Basho, which Hawar clarified is the victim’s “code name”.

Hawar News quoted a statement from the Syrian Democratic Forces who revealed that one of their fighters was killed and another person was wounded in the Turkish drone attack. According to the SDF, the fighter that was killed was working in the Department of Relations with the International Coalition. It is unclear if the other person injured was a fighter or a civilian.

Hawar News identified the location as the southern side of the town of Rumailan and the sources also quoted the SDF who stated that the drone struck a “military relations point in the town of “Rumailan” used to coordinate meetings with the international coalition forces.”

All of the sources attributed the attack to Turkish drones.

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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Image of Muhammad Diaa al-Din Hajji Muhammad, an SDF fighter killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the city of Rumailan on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by قامشلو قلب كوردستان Qamislo heart of Kurdistan via Facebook)
  • Image of Muhammad Diaa al-Din Hajji Muhammad, an SDF fighter killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the city of Rumailan on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by قامشلو قلب كوردستان Qamislo heart of Kurdistan via Facebook)
  • Image of Muhammad Diaa al-Din Hajji Muhammad, an SDF fighter killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the city of Rumailan on January 19, 2023. (Image posted by صاعقة الشمال North industry via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Rumailan (رميلان), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.006190, 41.950519. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

YPG Assessment:

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

Sources (9) [ collapse]