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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Incident Code

TS488

Incident date

February 2, 2022

Location

Kolya, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.85815, 40.4855 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a 30 year old woman, was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Kolya on February 2, 2022.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a 30 year old woman and a civilian were seriously injured as a result of Turkish artillery shelling on the village of Kolya in the Al Shur area.

Hawar News also reported that a woman was seriously injured in the village of Kolya, in addition to providing her name: Shirin Majul. She was taken to a hospital in Qamishlo city to receive treatment.

Athr Press gave an overview that Syrian Democratic Forces’ sites and civilians homes in the villages of Kolya, Tal Aboud, Khadrawi, and Al-Asriya were subject to Turkish shelling, which led to the injury of two civilians. However, they did not specify in which village the civilians were injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kolya (الكولية), allegedly located within the Tal Ash Shur (تل الشور) area of Al Hassakah (الحسكة). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Tall Ash Shur are: 36.85815, 40.4855.

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
    1–2
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI082

Incident date

June 15, 2022

Location

برخ, Parakh, Dohuk, Iraq

Geolocation

37.27665, 42.78737 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Parak in Duhok’s Zakho district on June 15, 2022.

According to Nalia Media Corporation, two people were wounded when Turkish forces bombarded Parakh in Duhok’s Zakho district. The reporter Wahid Sindi said that the two victims are a father and son who were working on their farm in the area and that both the father and son were sent to a hospital in Zakho for treatment.

Rudaw News provided the names of the two civilians injured: Nazir Omer Yousef, 51, and his 24-year-old son, Mohammed, were irrigating their orchard in Parakhian village when a bomb hit near them. Rudaw then added that both were injured due to shrapnel.

“We came under bombardment while we were irrigating our orchard,” the father told Rudaw’s Yousif Mousa at a hospital, adding that this is not the first time their village has come under bombardment. He was injured in his left thigh. Mohammed was injured in the left hand. He told Rudaw News: “All I can remember was that I heard a sound and found myself on the ground, bleeding.”

Dlsher Abdulsattar, mayor of Darkar, told Rudaw that the bomb ““was definitely fired by the Turkish army as far as we know,” he said, adding that the injured people have told him the same. He also told Rudaw that “Parakhian village is a populated village and there are 30 families….There are no PKK guerillas inside the village.” BasNews quoted Amir Ali, a spokesperson for the Independent Administration of Zakho, who reported that the airstrikes were carried out against “alleged positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) near Sharanshe resort.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Nazir Omer Yousef
51 years old male injured
Mohammed
24 years old male Son of Nazir injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • Nazir Omer Yousef, 51, and his 24-year-old son, Mohammed, who were injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Parakhian in Duhok’s Zakho district on June 15, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Parakh (برخ), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.27665, 42.78737. 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 and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

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

TS576

Incident date

December 3, 2022

Location

المجيبرة, Al Mujaibra, Al Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.515970, 40.892380 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four children were reportedly injured on December 3rd 2022 as a result of an unexploded ordnance, a previous Turkish shell, which exploded in the village of al-Mujaibra in the countryside of the town of Tel Tamr, north of Al-Hasakah, in Syria.  The shell was reported to have hit the village that morning, but did not explode immediately.

The children were identified as Suleiman Nasr Shalo (11 years old), Badran Nasr Shello (15 years old),  Ali Mahmoud Shello (11 years old) and Khaled Mahmoud Shello (13 years old).

Local sources told North Press Agency that the injured children were taken to Tal Tamr Hospital for treatment and that their health conditions were stable.  ANHA English reported that ”

The child Suleiman Nasr Shalo was wounded by shrapnel in his left foot, while the child Ali Mahmoud Shalo was wounded in his left foot and right hand. The nurse in the intensive care unit, Ahmed Farhan, confirmed that their health condition is stable, and they will be discharged today from the hospital.

As for the two children, Khaled Shalo, who was wounded by shrapnel in the head, and the child Badran Shalo, who was wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen, they are subject to 48-hour medical observation”

The father of two of the children, Badran and Suleiman Shalo, said to ANHA English that “the Turkish occupation is constantly targeting the villages of North and East Syria, including the village of Al-Mujibra, and some of the shells fall and do not explode, which poses a threat to the lives of citizens.”

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Suleiman Nasr Shalo
11 years old male injured
Badran Nasr Shalo
15 years old male brother of Suleiman injured

The victims were named as:

Ali Mahmoud Shlo
11 years old male injured
Khaled Mahmoud Shlo
13 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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
    Turkish Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Basnews reported that four children were injured after a previously unexploded Turkish shell exploded on December 3rd 2022 (Image via Basnews)
  • "Four children were injured as a result of a Turkish shell explosion, north of Al-Hasakah" (Image via NPA)
  • "Four children were injured as a result of a Turkish shell explosion, north of Al-Hasakah" (Image via NPA)
  • ANHA English reported that four children were injured after a previously unexploded Turkish shell exploded on December 3rd 2022.
  • "According to the correspondent of Hawar News Agency, four children were injured in the village of Al-Mujibra, northeast of Tal Tamr district of Al-Hasakah canton, when a shell exploded that had fallen earlier on the village but did not explode." (Image via ANF)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Mujaibra (المجيبرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.515970, 40.892380. 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
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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
    Turkish Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS612

Incident date

July 16, 2023

Location

قرية حسن اغا, Hasan Agha village, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 16th July 2023, a male civilian was reportedly injured by a Turkish drone strike on a car in the village of Hasan Agha, located to the south of the city of Manbij.

44 year-old Ahmed Al-Jassem was injured and taken to the nearest hospital for treatment and has subsequently been released.

An initial Facebook post published by the Manbij Military Council Media Center alleged that the strike on a civilian vehicle took place at around 11:30 am. However, both the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights and the North Press reported that Ahmed Al-Jassem was injured by the Turkish strike on a military vehicle of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).  A further Facebook post by Minbij News reported that the incident left one member of SDF dead and two others injured.

The incident occured at approximately 11:30 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Al-Jassem أحمد الجاسم
44 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Site of impact from alleged Turkish drone strikes in Hasan Agha village on July 16, 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (9) [ 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

TS034

Incident date

December 28, 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 four and five civilians were reported killed in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling on Al Bab, Syria.

LCCSY reported: “By the end of the day, 16 people were killed in Aleppo, majority are by landmines by ISIS and Turkish artillery shelling in Al-Bab city.”

Smart News only mentioned Turkish airstrikes in the area in a report but no civilian casualties.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ 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
    4 – 5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS073

Incident date

February 4, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One child reportedly died in alleged Turkish or FSA artillery shelling on Al Bab.

The Syrian network for Human Rights wrote that “the child Hassan Al Jaboli, age 12, died from Euphrates Shield artillery shells fired on Al Bab city in the Aleppo governorate.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Al Jaboli
12 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 city 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.

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 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]