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

TS016

Incident date

November 27, 2016

Location

تادف, Tadif, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.34857, 37.531501 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and five civilians were reportedly killed in a Turkish or Syrian regime artillery strike on Tadif outside Al Bab.

Nabd Syria reported: “Five civilians were killed and others injured by the artillery shelling of the Assad forces in Tadif in the eastern countryside of Aleppo.”

The ISIS propaganda outlet Al A’amaq published a similar report, but accused Turkey of the attack: “A child killed and five others injured by Turkish artillery on the town of Tadif near the town of al Bab north east of Aleppo.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tadif (تادف), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.34857, 37.531501. 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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS017

Incident date

December 1, 2016

Location

بزاعة, Al Baraziya village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.445616, 37.627831 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Syria News Desk reported that a child was killed and other members of their family injured in a Turkish artillery strike on Al Baraziya.

According to the local agency: “A child was killed and four other civilians were wounded, all of them from one family, this afternoon, by Turkish artillery targeting Al Baraziya village east of Al Bab city with several shells.”

“The media opposition activist Osama al-Halabi of Aleppo, told Syria News Desk that the seven shells fell on Al Baraziya Village, after an outbreak of clashes between opposition groups and SDF near the village of Al Yalni, pointing out that the wounded were taken to the National Hospital in Manbij, and the shelling resulted in material damage to a number of houses.”

There are no other known sources for this allegation at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 village of Al Baraziya village (بزاعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.445616, 37.627831. 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)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS405 TS018

Incident date

December 6, 2016

Location

البزاعة, Al Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3829071, 37.56666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources blamed the US-led Coalition for the deaths of a woman and her seven children at al Baza’a, north east of al Bab. However the Coalition later assessed the claims as ‘Not credible.’ Given Turkey’sd own campaign at the time at Al-Bab, its aircraft may therefore have been responsible.

According to Step News “Coalition planes launch several raids on al Baza’a last night killing eight people including women and children.” The Syrian Observatory did not identify the perpetrators however, noting that “a woman with seven of her children was killed by massacre by warplanes targeted Bazaa village northeast of al-Bab city.”

Syria News Desk reported the following: “A civilian source from al Bab, on condition of anonymity, told Syria news desk , that the planes targeted the old police station and nearby homes on the southern outskirts of town, confirming the presence of several dangerous situations among the injured, who were transferred to hospitals in Al Bab, making it likely that number of deaths will rise during coming hours due to poor medical facilities in the region.

“The source added that the raids resulted in the destruction of the police station building and two houses completely and burning a house and three civilian cars, in addition to considerable material damage to a number of shops and their contents.”

Euphrates Post – which also blamed the Coalition – named the dead.

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials said the event was presently assessed as ‘Not credible.’

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Leila
Adult female Wife of Abboud Abbas killed
Mohammed Aboud Al Abbas
Child male killed
Ibrahim Abboud Al Abbas
Child male killed
Hassan Abboud Al Abbas
Child male killed
Fatima Abboud Al Abbas
Child female killed
Walaa Abboud Al Abbas
Child female killed
Hilal Aboud Al-Abbas.
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3–7 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    22
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Baza’a (البزاعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.3829071, 37.56666. 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 Baza'a, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 5th-6th 2016, the Coalition reported that “Near Manbij, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

In the last week France has conducted 10 strikes: Eight in Iraq (near Mosul) and two in Syria. Eleven ISIL targets were destroyed.

#Chammal : 10 frappes cette semaine en Irak et en Syrie, 11 objectifs détruits.

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • See individual partner strike report for translation.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3–7 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    22
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS410 TS019

Incident date

December 9, 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

At least thirteen civilians were reported killed and eight injured in either a Turkish or Coalition airstrike on al Bab. The Coalition later denied responsibility.

Al Jazeera – citing ISIS – said two families were among 13 dead civilians after multiple “Turkish airstrikes” on the city. The Syrian Observatory said that “no less than 12 civilians from three families were killed while others were wounded by Turkish airstrikes and bombardment by Turkish forces and al-Furat Shield forces targeted al-Bab city which is taken over by IS, including a man with his wife and 3 of their children in addition to another man from the same family, with his wife and 2 of their children, in addition to 2 children with their mother, the number of the dead is likely to rise.”

Shaam News placed the death toll at 20.

Almost all sources blamed Turkey. However LCCSY (which had claimed Turkey was not killing civilians in its actions in northern Syria) said the US-led Coalition was instead responsible. The Syrian Network also blamed the Coalition.

Halaab News (which blamed the Coalition) named the civilian victims.

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials said the event was presently assessed as ‘Not Credible.’

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (9)

Abd al Rahman Na’ssani
Adult male killed
Abd al Rahman Na’ssani's wife
Adult female killed
Sidra Abd al Rahman Na’ssani
Child female killed
Anas Abd al Rahman Na’ssani
Child female killed
Sidal Abd al Rahman Na’ssani
Child female
Malek Na’ssani
Adult male killed
Malek Na’ssani's wife
Adult female killed
Shahida Malik Na’ssani
Child female killed
Al Zafla Nour Malik Na’ssani
Adult female killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Hamad
Child male killed
Fouad Ahmad
Child male killed
Fatima al Nako
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 20
  • (7 children4 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Jisr TV reports in tense 'Turkish air and artillery' shelling on the city of al Bab in preparation for a rebel attack. 9th December 2016

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.

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, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 8th-9th 2016, the Coalition publicly reported no strikes in Aleppo governorate.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 20
  • (7 children4 women8 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS021

Incident date

December 12, 2016

Location

البزاعة, Al Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3829071, 37.56666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians from one family were reported killed as a result of Turkish artillery shelling in Al Baza’a, according to a single source.

The ISIS propaganda outlet Al A’amaq wrote: “a family of five killed following Turkish shelling on Baza’a near al Bab northeast of Aleppo.”

There are no other known details available at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • 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 town of Al Baza’a (البزاعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.3829071, 37.56666. 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
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS413 TS020

Incident date

December 12, 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

Twelve civilians were killed and up to 30 injured at al Bab in what local sources claimed was a ‘Coalition’ strike, but which may have been a result of Turkish-ISIS fighting.

Al A’maq, ISIS’s media wing, reported “12 dead and 30 injured, most of them women and children, following violent Turkish shelling with more than 150 missiles and rockets that fell on al Bab since this morning.” A video (since blocked) also showed a number of children being treated for serious injuries.

Ara News said that “Turkish forces shelled the city of al Bab and Tadef northeast of Aleppo, northern Syria, on Monday, and the shelling targeted civilian neighbourhoods.” The Syrian Observatory also blamed Turkish and Euphrates Shield forces.

However both Halab News and VDC blamed the US-led Coalition – which they may still have viewed Turkey as being an active member of.

Al Bab al Hadath said both Turkish and Coalition planes attacked the city, killing 12 including two families and injuring 20 civilians. In total it named twelve victims:

In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials requested additional information concerning the alleged event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Mamdouh Noma
Adult male was killed with two of his girls killed
Daughter of Mamdouh Noma
Age unknown female killed
Second daughter of Mamdouh Noma
Age unknown female killed

Family members (1)

Al Boushi family
Age unknown 5 members were killed killed

The victims were named as:

Tarek Ahmad Zakkour al Alabi
15 years years old male killed
Omar Mohammad al Eido
16 years years old male killed
Mustapha Naqishbandi
Age unknown male killed
Alaa Hajjar
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (6 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–30
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • Al Bab following reported Turkish or Coalition strikes on December 12th 2016. (via Bab al Hadath)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims following reported Turkish or Coalition strikes on Al Bab, December 12th 2016. (via Al Bab al Hadath)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims following reported Turkish or Coalition strikes on Al Bab, December 12th 2016. (via Al Bab al Hadath)
  • Al Bab following reported Turkish or Coalition strikes on December 12th 2016. (via Bab al Hadath)
  • Al Bab following reported Turkish or Coalition strikes on December 12th 2016. (via Bab al Hadath)
  • Al Bab following reported Turkish or Coalition strikes on December 12th 2016. (via Bab al Hadath)
  • Al Bab following reported Turkish or Coalition strikes on December 12th 2016. (via Bab al Hadath)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of child being treated in hospital following alleged Turkish and Coalition raids on al Bab, 12th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of a child victim in hospital following an alleged Turkish and Coalition raid on al Bab, 16th December 2016. )via Khaled Shaban)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of a child victims in hospital following an alleged Turkish and Coalition raid on al Bab, 16th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of a male civilian casualty killed following an alleged Turkish and Coalition raid on al Bab, 16th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured children being treated in hospital following alleged Turkish and Coalition raids on al Bab, 12th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of child being treated in hospital following alleged Turkish and Coalition raids on al Bab, 12th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)
  • Photo of child being transported to hospital following alleged Turkish and Coalition raids on al Bab, 12th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)
  • Injured children being treated in hospital following alleged Turkish and Coalition raids on al Bab, 12th December 2016. (via Khaled Shaban)
  • Damaged building in the aftermath of the alleged raid on Al Bab, 12th November 2016. (via Halab today)
  • Damaged building in the aftermath of the alleged raid on Al Bab, 12th November 2016. (via Al Bab al Hadath facebook)

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.

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, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

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

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 11th-13th 2016 the Coalition publicly reported no strikes in the vicinity of al Bab.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • (6 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–30
  • 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 (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS022

Incident date

December 14, 2016

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.369073, 37.499594 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several sources reported the targeting of civilian infrastructure by Turkish warplanes in Al Bab, Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights wrote: “Turkish warplanes targeted the national hospital in the city of Bab in the north-eastern Aleppo countryside with several strikes, which is controlled by the Islamic State. No information about casualties so far.”

Khaled Shaban reported something similar on Twitter.

The ISIS news outlet Al A’amaq claimed that the hospital was hit by three strikes.

Step News said there were “deaths and injuries” but didn’t elaborate if they were civilians.

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 (4) [ collapse]

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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS023

Incident date

December 15, 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

The ISIS-affiliated media propaganda outlet Al A’amaq reported one civilian dead and others injured as a result of a Turkish bombardment of Al Bab.

It wrote: “One person killed and eight injured following Turkish bombardment targeting al Bab in the Aleppo countryside this afternoon.”

There are no other known details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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, 37.51631. 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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]