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

TS365a

Incident date

October 24, 2019

Location

تل تمر, Tal Tamr, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.655309, 40.372388 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Kurdish Red Crescent, one civilian aged 58 was injured in an alleged Turkish forces attack on Tal Tamr in Hasaka governorate – Syria on October 24th, 2019. No more details currently available.

@DrMWilk reported that “four seriously injured people” were brought to the hospital in Tal Tamr.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tal Tamr (تل تمر), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.655309, 40.372388. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS341D

Incident date

October 14, 2019

Location

درباسية, Al Darbasiyah/Dirbêsiyê, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.072778, 40.651944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported that one civilian aged 18 was injured in an alleged Turkish forces attack on Al Darbasiyah/Dirbêsiyê‎ in Hassakah, Syria on December 14th, 2019.

No more details are available at the moment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rewend Haitham Iskan
18 years old male injured

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Darbasiyah/Dirbêsiyê (درباسية), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.072778, 40.651944. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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

TS424

Incident date

March 26, 2020

Location

تل رفعت , Tal Rifaat, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.472576, 37.096272 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported injured when Turkish forces stationed near Azaz fired several rockets on Tal Rifa’at in Aleppo, Syria on March 26th, 2020. The injured civilians are IDPs originally from Afrin living in Tal Rifa’at.

@NadiaAbidd reported that “Two civilians were injured in Tel Rifaat city as a result of rocket fire from the Turkish armed forces positioned in the Azaz area.”

Afrin Post said the city was bombed with shells and heavy weapons. One of the injured civilians was identified as Abd al-Rahman Ibrahim, aged 33.

Also according to Rojava Information Center on Twitter, five shells struck down the city of Tal Rifa’at. In addition to injuring the two civilians, the shelling resulted in damaging a water pipe feeding the city which left around 25,000 people without drinking water.

 

The incident occured around midday.

The victims were named as:

33 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tal Rifaat (تل رفعت) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.472576 37.096272. 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
    No
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS456

Incident date

November 17, 2020

Location

عين عيسى, Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.387671, 38.863106 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported injured in an alleged Turkish forces or pro-Turkey forces artillery shelling and/or drone attack on Ain Issa in Raqqa, Syria on November 17th, 2020.

Ahmed Jassim, Mahmoud Ali and Hamza Ibrahim arrived at the Ain Issa town hospital with injuries ranging from light to moderate as a result of shrapnel.

Eyeonhasaka said the Turkish shelling targeted sites of QSD in Ain Issa and its surrounding, the town’s camp, the M4 international highway, and the villages of Ain Dagna and Baylounia.

Sources said that the shelling also caused damage to civilians’ properties and agriculture crops.

The Syrian Observatory and Almowatana News said no casualties were reported, but other local sources published images of the injured civilians so we graded this civilian harm incident as fair.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male injured
Age unknown male injured
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • A civilian injured in alleged Turkish forces or pro-Turkey militants shelling on Ain Issa on Nov 17th, 2020. (via @NPA_Arabic).
  • A civilian injured in alleged Turkish forces or pro-Turkey militants shelling on Ain Issa on Nov 17th, 2020. (via @NPA_Arabic).
  • A civilian injured in alleged Turkish forces or pro-Turkey militants shelling on Ain Issa on Nov 17th, 2020. (via @NPA_Arabic).
  • Turkish forces or pro-Turkey militants shelling on Ain Issa on Nov 17th, 2020. (via @NPA_Arabic).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ain Issa (عين عيسى) and its surroundings, for which the generic coordinates are; 36.387671, 38.863106. 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
    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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS485

Incident date

January 22, 2022

Location

قرية الحدريات, Hadriat village, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians were killed and up to four others were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Hadriat and other surrounding villages in the countryside of Ain Issa on January 22, 2022.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Turkish bombings of the village of Hadriat resulted in the death of five civilians and the wounding of four others. This was the most violent attack carried out by Turkish forces in the last 2 months.

Hawar News reported on the killing of two residents of the village of Jabal from Turkish attacks. Hawar News also reported that two civilians were injured in the bombing of the village of Al-Msherfa. Images posted along with this report show two men getting treatment for their wounds.

North Press Agency put the casualty toll at two civilians killed and three injured, providing the names of the injured as: 20-year-old Muhammad Mahmud, the 45-year-old Muhammad Saleh Mahmud, and the 40-year-old Abdulrahim Hamoud Saleh. The source added that Abdulrahim Saleh Muhammad succumbed to his injuries after arriving at Martyr Omar Alosh Hospital in Ain Issa town.

Ain Issa Plus provided details that Abdulrahim Saleh Muhammad was a child, 14 years old, and add the name Hassan Al-Mohammed to the list of injured, who is 22 years old.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently also reported that people were killed and wounded from artillery shelling launched by the Turkish army, adding that “the SDF militia Sabah set up mortars in the vicinity of the village, targeting positions of the National Army militia”.

The Syrian Democratic Forces Press Center identified two civilians as being killed and two others as being injured, and their spokesman @farhad_shami posted a video on Twitter alongside this information that shows a man with blood on his leg, indicating he may be one of the men that was injured.

In addition to the civilian casualties, Syrian Arab News Agency identified that the strikes resulted in damage to “some homes and public and private properties”.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the attack to Turkish forces, with Ajansa Nûçeyan a Firate (ANF) identifed “rockets, Grad guns, tanks and mortar shells” as being used by Turkey “since the early hours of the morning”.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Mahmud صالح حمود محمد
20 years old injured
Muhammad Saleh Mahmud محمد حمود صالح
45 years old injured
Abdulrahim Hamoud Saleh عبد الرحيم حمود صالح
40 years old male injured
Abdul Rahim Salih Muhammad عبد الرحيم صالح محمد
14 years old killed
Hassan Al-Mohammed
22 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • One of the men injured in alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Al-Msherfa on January 22, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • One of the men injured in alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Al-Msherfa on January 22, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Al-Msherfa on January 22, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Arab News Agency)
  • Rescue crews and civilians at the site of alleged Turkish strikes on the villages in the Ain Issa countryside on January 22, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

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
    2 – 5
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS515

Incident date

June 3, 2022

Location

قرية ام القرى, Um Al Qura village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.380371, 37.228940 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and two civilians were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Um Al Qura on June 3, 2022.

According to North Press Agency, a displaced person from the village of Afraz was injured when Turkish forces bombed the village of Um Al Qura. The injured man’s house was damaged and the car parked in front of the house was also damaged.

A medical source from Afrin Hospital told North Press Agency that “Younis Mustafa Daoud, 33, was wounded by shrapnel in his back, which led to its stability in the abdomen. He is still undergoing surgery, and his condition is unstable.” Hawar News added that Daoud was later transferred to a hospital in Aleppo city.

Lîlav Ibrahîm posted on Facebook that in addition to Younis Daoud, his son was also injured in the same bombardment. Afrin Network also reported that a father and son were injured, identifying the age of the father to be 45 years old.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

33 years old male injured

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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by the Turkish bombing of Um Al Qura village on June 3, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Man injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Um Al Qura village on June 3, 2022. (Image posted by Afrin Network)
  • Man injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Um Al Qura village on June 3, 2022. (Image posted by Afrin Network)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Um Al Qura (ام القرى), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.380371, 37.228940. 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
    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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS547

Incident date

August 16, 2022

Location

زركان, Zarkan, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.846389, 40.326944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Zarkan sub-district on August 16, 2022.

Hawar News Agency reported that in the Zarkan sub-district, 11 year old Tamim Faisal Hamad was wounded by Turkish shelling on the district’s center. There was no other information available about victims of the shelling.

North Press Agency cited a military source who said that three Turkish shells hit a village in Zarkan.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the district of Zarkan (زركان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.846389, 40.326944. 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
    1
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS575

Incident date

November 29, 2022

Location

صوغانكي, Soghnaki, Aleppo , Syria

Geolocation

36.435923, 36.927280 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On November 29th 2022, two civilians were reportedly injured following Turkish artillery shelling on Soghnaki (Soghanaki) village in Sherawa district, Aleppo governorate.

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
    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 target
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • On November 29th 2022, several villages were reportedly targeted by Turkish artillery shelling in Sherawa district. Photo: Rojnews

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Soghnaki (صوغانكي), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.435923, 36.927280. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    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 target
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]