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

TS281

Incident date

March 17, 2018

Location

عفرين, Afrin city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.511389, 36.864167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died, and several more were wounded in an alleged Turkish bombing of Afrin city, local media reported.

According to ANF, The invading Turkish army continued to massacre civilians on the 57th day of the attacks against Afrin. A building in the city centre was bombed, trapping three civilians in the rubble.

One building in Afrin city centre fell down as a result of the bombing, while there are at least three civilians trapped under the rubble.

IC Afrin Resistance also reported that three civilians were missing under the rubble.

Adar Press, Brexwedanakurd and Xeber24 recorder the death toll at three with several more injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Afrin city (عفرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.511389, 36.864167. 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
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS282

Incident date

March 17, 2018

Location

سري كانيه, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.391667, 36.693056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to ANF, hundreds of civilians were killed as a vehicle convoy carrying Turkish warplanes targeted the civilians who were escaping from invasion attacks on Saturday.

Locals say that the convoy was carrying more than 300 civilians and most of them were killed in the attack.

However, it should be noted that Jindires was already under Turkish control when this incident was reported. The event has therefore been discounted by Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    300
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jindires, Afrin ( سري كانيه), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.391667, 36.693056. 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
    300
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1739a TS282a

Incident date

March 18, 2018

Location

تل حميس, Tal Hamees, South of al Qamishli, Al Hassaka, Syria

Geolocation

36.754529, 41.398836 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported that Turkey carried out airstrikes on SDF positions in Tal Hamees, South of al Qamishli. However, other outlets also stated that this was not the case and that the US-led Coalition conducted strikes on homes which reportedly held family members of ISIS. However, no casualty estimates were given.

The Shaam News Network, citing activists, said that Turkish aircraft targeted the positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces in the area of Tal Hamis and at the Umm al-Russ station southeast of the city of Qamishli.

Syria al hadath added: Turkish planes targeted locations of the Kurdish units at the Umm al-Rouss station in the west of Tal Hamis, in the north-eastern countryside of Al-Hasakah.

Al Hasaka Youth Union Facebook page posted: Turkish aircraft target the positions of the militia PYD in the area Tel_hamis southeast of  Qamishli but later corrected themselves, stating that it was, in fact, a Coalition airstrike. The source also ambivalently reported that the strike targeted homes of Iraqi refugees with the claims that IS elements were present there.

Shaam Network also reported it as a Turkish airstrike while Baladi News blamed the Coalition. The source added that homes were targeted because there were claims that there were ISIS militants present.

Baladi said: Local sources from the region said that an aerial landing of the International Coalition, carried out by a helicopter accompanied by two other aircraft, on the area of agricultural projects, pointing out that it targeted two homes inhabited by two Iraqi families, who fled earlier to the region.

According to the sources, the operation was carried out at 2 am, followed by loudspeaker calls, saying that they were soldiers from the International Coalition, followed by intermittent firing.

Some sources said that a Turkish air strike targeted the area near the town of Tal Hamis – but these reports could not be verified.

According to Jisr TV, in the north-east of Hasaka, Coalition forces arrested a number of Iraqi refugees in the countryside of Tel Hamis, after the implementation of an aerial landing in the region.

Asia News provided some more detail, adding that three US helicopters carried out an aerial landing targeting a house between the villages of Kalou and al-Jaysi, 2 km south of Tal Hamis district in the south-eastern suburb of Qamishli.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal Hamees, South of al Qamishli ( تل حميس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.754529, 41.398836. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

There were no reported strikes conducted in Syria or Iraq on March 18, 2018.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original

Sunday 18 March – a Reaper killed two terrorists on a motorcycle in eastern Syria…On Sunday 18 March, a Reaper tracked a pair of terrorists on a motorcycle south-east of As Shadadi in eastern Syria. It became clear that they were operating as a mobile checkpoint in an attempt to exert control over the local area. The Reaper’s crew waited until the motorcycle was in open country, and despite its high speed, achieved a direct hit with a Hellfire which killed both of the Daesh extremists.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS283

Incident date

March 19, 2018

Location

كيمار, Kimar village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.525000, 36.910278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several sources claimed civilians casualties following alleged Turkish airstrikes or artillery shelling on Kimar village, Afrin – though specific numbers were not given.

Claudia, a Kurdish activist, tweeted: “Invaders warplanes are bombing the Kimar village amid intense clashes. We should expect a new massacre of civilians in this village.”

ANF added that “according to reports from the ground, Turkish invasion forces and allied gangs conducted artillery attacks against Basute and Kimara villages in Afrin’s Sherawa district.” ANF went on to add that a heavy bombardment with mortars and howitzers “killed several civilians.”

IC Afrin Resistance reported: “The mosque of Kimar village in Sherawa district has been attacked by Turkish army and related jihadist FSA groups. Civilians have been monitored and they have been attacked by drones belonging to the Turkish army.”

While Hawar reported that there might be martyrs and wounded civilians in the bombing, a later report said that casualties had been reported but did not give numbers.

It is not clear whether the civilians were killed followed the artillery shelling or the airstrike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kimar village, Afrin (كيمار), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.525000, 36.910278. 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 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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

TS284

Incident date

March 21, 2018

Location

بايعة, Ba'iya village, Shirawa district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.6175, 36.936944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple local sources, two civilians died in an alleged Turkish shelling of Ba’iya village.

The SDF accused the Turkish occupation army of bombing the surrounding villages which resulted in the deaths of civilians in the village of Ba’iya.

Sources reported that “the Kurdish units destroyed a military vehicle of the Turkish army, stressing the killing of all of the Turkish soldiers inside, pointing out at the same time that the Turkish army shelled the vicinity of the villages mentioned, resulting in the deaths of a number of civilians in the village of Baia.”

According to IC Afrin Resistance, due to Turkish army’s artillery shelling at Beye village, Sherawa district, two civilians lost their lives.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Turkish Military, Kurdish Forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ba’iya village, Shirawa district, Afrin (بايعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.6175, 36.936944. 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

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Kurdish Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Kurdish Forces
  • Kurdish Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Turkish Military, Kurdish Forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS285

Incident date

November 1, 2018

Location

تل أبيض , Tel Fender, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.694722, 38.879444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that a girl was killed due to Turkish shelling on Tal Fander, one of the Tal Abyad villages in northern Raqqa.

Although most sources reported that the girl was killed in an airstrike, Smart claimed that the Turkish army targeted the village with heavy machine guns and sniper fire, which allegedly killed the girl after she was hit by a bullet to the head.

In a press release, CENTCOM confirmed cross-border attacks by Turkey against SDF positions in northern-Syria, stating that the SDF temporarily suspended offensive actions against ISIS in response.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sara Rifaat
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sara Rifaat was killed due to an alleged Turkish airstrike on Tal Abyad (via RBSS).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sara Rifaat, alleged killed in a Turkish airstrike on Tal Abyad (via Euphrates Post).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tel Fender (تل فندر), for which the coordinates are: 36.694722, 38.879444

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 child1 woman)
  • 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

TS287

Incident date

December 20, 2018

Location

الدرباسية , Ad Darbasiyah, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.073092, 40.651020 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were allegedly killed in a Turkish airstrike on Ad Darbasiyah.

ANF reported: “According to reports, Turkish military forces targeted a family in the border area between Erade and Feqiran villages in Dirbesiye city of Heseke Canton.

The savage armed attack claimed the life of 4 civilians, 3 of whom are women.”

Özgür Gündem tweeted: “Turkish army targeted a family between the villages of Eradê and Feqîra in the west of Dirbêsiyê and east of Serêkaniyê around 22.30 yesterday evening. 4 people were killed in the attack, including 3 women and 5 people were injured”

Other sources published similar reports.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed El-Casim
14 years old male injured
Khaledi Abdullah Umar
65 years old male injured
Abdullah Mohammed Sayyed
22 years old male injured
Xewla Hamid Ewad
16 years old female injured
Rohilat Ibrahim Mahmoud
25 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Pictures of the alleged victims

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ad Darbasiyah ( الدرباسية ), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.073092, 40.651020. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS288

Incident date

April 30, 2019

Location

الشهباء‎, Al Shabha province, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.494797, 37.087726 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians were reportedly injured in a Turkish airstrike on the Al Shabha province of Aleppo.

ANHA reported: “5 civilians were injured following the bombing of the Turkish Occupation Army and its mercenaries to the villages of Al Shahba Province.

Our communication from Al Shahba District reported that, as a result of the intense shelling on the villages of Al Shahba this Tuesday evening by the Turkish Occupation Army and its mercenaries based in Azaz, which lasted both of the villages of “Bellodia, Ain-Daqna, and the surroundings of Tel Rifat” were injured. At least 5 civilians with wounds.”

There is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Al Shabha province (الشهباء‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.494797, 37.087726. 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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

Sources (1) [ collapse]