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

Incident Code

TS604

Incident date

June 16, 2023

Location

مشفى تل رفعت, Tal Rifaat Hospital, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.470464, 37.079211 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 16 June 2023, Tal Rifaat Hospital in the northern countryside of Aleppo was allegedly struck by a Turkish artillery strike. The Health Authority in the area reported that four civilians were injured in the strike, including one of the medical staff who works in the hospital, while other sources referred to “members” of the medical staff being injured. According to the statement, 25-year-old Mukhlis Ahmed Nassan, 40-year-old Abdullah Abdul Rahman Murad, 45-year-old Muhammad Hamid and 27-year-old Mustafa Hassan have all suffered from injuries, with two in a critical condition.

The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, the Health Body, the Health Authority and the local news outlet, ANF, documented the event, with calls for the ‘international community to put pressure on the Turkish occupation state to stop its brutal attacks’.

A Facebook post from Serhed Amara pointed out that it seems that a Russian base is located next to the hospital in Tal Rifaat.

According to North Press Agency, the shelling occurred in the center of the town and also resulted in material damages to the residents’ properties.

All of the 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:

Mukhlis Ahmed Naasan مخلص أحمد نعسان
25 years old injured
Abdullah Abdul Rahman Murad عبدلله عبدالرحمن مراد
40 years old injured
Muhammad Hamid محمد حميد
45 years old injured
Mustafa Hassan مصطفى حسن
27 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on June 16, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • One of the victims of alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on June 16, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on June 16, 2023. (Image posted by بارين عفرين Barin Efrin via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Tal Rifaat Hospital (مشفى تل رفعت) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.470464, 37.079211. 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 infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS644

Incident date

Location

الخالدية, Khalidiya village, Ain Essa countryside, Raqqa Governorate, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Saturday, October 7th, 2023, an alleged Turkish artillery shelling in Khalidiya village, located in the Ain Essa countryside, Syria, reportedly killed an elderly woman and injured at least one other person, her husband.

Numerous sources, such as Facebook page Ehlê Qamişlo, have named the deceased woman as Amsha Muhammad Hilal Al-Baqer, aged 65, and her injured husband as Muhammad Al-Khalaf Al-Ali, aged 70. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), referring to Raqqa Governorate, along with North Syria network reported that two of their children were also injured while other sources only mentioned the husband’s injury. However, no further details were shared.

SOHR reported that the elderly woman and her husband’s house was shelled by Turkish forces who were bombing military sites belonging to the Syrian Democratic Forces. However, according to Ehle Qamishlo, the attack was part of efforts by the Turkish military to strike “civilians who were denouncing the Turkish… attacks in front of a Russian forces base in the village of Al-Khalidiya”.

Devastating photographs of Amsha Hilal Al-Baqer deceased and Muhammad Al-Khalaf Al-Ali being treated in hospital were shared by multiple sources, such as Rojava Post.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to Turkish military.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Amsha al-Bakari عمشة هلال الباقر
65 years old female Wife killed
Muhammad al-Ali محمد الخلف العلي
70 years old male Husband injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rojava facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rojava facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Rojava 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 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (7) [ collapse]