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

TS413

Incident date

February 24, 2020

Location

الخاروفية كبير, Al Kharoufiyah Kabir, Aleppo , Syria

Geolocation

36.409167, 37.900556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was reported injured in alleged Turkish shelling on Al Kharoufiyah Kabir in Manbej of Aleppo, Syria on February 24th, 2020 according to local sources.

Manbej Military Council reported that “The Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries target from their base in the village of Al-Yashli and Sheikh Nasser and Al-Tokharak the points of concentration of the forces of Manbij Military Council in the large village of Kharoufiya, Dandaniyah, Arab Hassan Al-Sagheer, Aoun Dadat, Rafia. As a result, a woman from the village of Al Kharoufiyah Kabir was wounded, as a result of indiscriminate shells near the densely populated village, and one Syrian army was wounded. ”

No further details are available.

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
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Destruction to a house in Kharoufiya Kabir village in Manbej allegedly caused by Turkish forces shelling on February 24th, 2020. (via manbejmc).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Kharoufiyah Kabir (الخاروفية كبير), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.409167, 37.900556. 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS411

Incident date

February 23, 2020

Location

الفاطسة, Al Fatsa, Raqqa , Syria

Geolocation

36.400556, 38.968056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

ANF reported that on February 23rd, 2020, “Turkish forces attacked the village of Al Fatsa in Ain Issa region at around 17:30 local time on Saturday. The attack left three children and a woman injured, and were then taken to Raqqa Hospital for treatment.”

Also @Kurdistan4K reported that Turkish shelling renewed on Ain Issa countryside, causing injuries among civilians.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Woman injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Fatsa village in Ain Issa on February 23rd, 2020 (via ANF)
  • Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria. (via @Kurdistan4K)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Fatsa (الفاطسة) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.400556, 38.968056. 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
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS412

Incident date

February 23, 2020

Location

مُنـابـي, Mabujah, Raqqa , Syria

Geolocation

36.591111, 38.728333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to ANF, two civilians including a child were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Mabujah village in Tal Abyad on February 23rd, 2020. ANF said that ” During the night, the invading Turkish state and its mercenaries shelled the village of Mabujah in Girê Spî (Tal Abyad). As a result of the bombing, a 16-year-old boy named Meram Khelîl was injured together with another civilian.”

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A child injured in alleged Russian shelling on Mebuce village in Tal Abyad on February 23rd, 2020. (via ANF)
  • Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria. (via @Kurdistan4K)

Geolocation notes

Reports on the incident mention the village of Mabujah (مُنـابـي) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.591111, 38.728333. 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
    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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS410

Incident date

February 18, 2020

Location

مشرفة, Mishrefa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.327222, 38.924722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported injured in alleged Turkish air or artillery strikes on the village of Mishrefa and Şergirat, Ain Issa, on February 18th, 2020, according to local sources.

ANF reported that “at 19.30 local time, the villages of Mishrefa and Şergirat were targeted. In the attack with heavy weapons, the wheat warehouse was bombed with mortars. According to the first information, at least 3 people were injured and hospitalised.”

@AzadiRojava posted a video of wounded men receiving medical help in Ain Issa hospital, also reporting three wounded civilians due to Turkish bombing.

The incident occured at approximately 7:30 pm local time.

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Wounded man receiving medical help after alleged Turkish attacks on the villages of Mişrefa and Şergirat on February 18th, 2020 (via ANF).
  • Young man receiving medical help after alleged Turkish attacks on the villages of Mişrefa and Şergirat on February 18th, 2020 (via ANF).
  • Injured man receiving medical help after alleged Turkish attacks on the villages of Mişrefa and Şergirat on February 18th, 2020 (via ANF).
  • Young man receiving medical help after alleged Turkish attacks on the villages of Mişrefa and Şergirat on February 18th, 2020 (via ANF).
  • Injured man in a hospital after alleged Turkish attacks on the villages of Mişrefa and Şergirat on February 18th, 2020 (via ANF).
  • Footage of wounded receiving medical help in a hospital after alleged Turkish bombing of villages in Ain Issa on February 18th, 2020 (via @Jamal_Bali7).

Geolocation notes

Reports on the incident mention the village of Mishrefa (مشرفة) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.327222, 38.924722. 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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS409

Incident date

February 15, 2020

Location

باشمرة, Bashamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.310556, 36.978611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and two children were injured in alleged Turkish air and/or artillery strikes on the village of Bashamra, Sherawa district, Aleppo governorate, on February 15th, 2020, according to local sources.

ANF English reported that Turkish forces launched an attack on the village, resulting into the injury of a woman named Sêvîn Nebu Qesab and her 8-year-old daughter Hemide Selih Hilal. The name of another injured child is unknown.

Hawar News Agency reported that “the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries are bombing the populated village of Bashamra in Sherawa district in Afrin, and it resulted in wounding a woman and two children”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Sêvîn Nebu Qesab
Adult female injured
Hemide Selih Hilal
8 years old female daughter of Sêvîn Nebu Qesab 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Displaced women reportedly seeking shelter from alleged Turkish shelling on Bashamreh village, Aleppo governorate, on February 15th, 2020 (via @HesenHoseng).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a strike in the village of Bashamra (باشمرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.310556, 36.97861. 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS408

Incident date

February 3, 2020

Location

عقيبة, Aqiba, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.437500, 36.968333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that Turkish forces targeted villages in Afrin including Aqiba village during the night, leading to the death of one elderly civilian, an the injury of other civilians including his daughter, on February 3rd, 2020.

NPA Syria reported that “a Syrian civilian was killed and a woman was injured due to the Turkish forces shelling on the village of Aqiba in Sherawa district, south of the Syrian-Kurdish region of Afrin.”, and that “67-year-old Ali Malla lost his life, and his daughter Zainab was wounded after their house was targeted by the Turkish military and its affiliated armed opposition groups’ bombardment on February 3rd, 2020.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Malla علي ملا
67 years old male killed
Zainab Ali Malla زينب علي ملا
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Turkish shelling on Afrin, Syria on February 3rd, 2020 (via Raperinagel9).
  • Aftermath of alleged Turkish shelling on villages in Afrin, Syria on February 3rd, 2020 (via NPASyria).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ali Malla, 67, was reported killed by alleged Turkish shelling on Aqiba village in Afrin, Syria on February 3rd, 2020 (via Rojavanetwork).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Aqiba (عقيبة) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.437500, 36.968333. 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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS407

Incident date

January 29, 2020

Location

تل رفعت, Tell Rifaat, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.472183, 37.094334 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “a child was killed by artillery shelling of the Turkish Forces carried out from areas controlled by their loyal factions. The shelling targeted Tall Rifaat town within areas of deployment of the Kurdish forces north of Aleppo on January 29th, 2020.”

No further details are available at the moment.

The incident was first reported on January 30, 2020 at 12:54 am by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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 village of Tell Rifaat (تل رفعت), for which the coordinates are: 36.472183, 37.094334

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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]

Incident Code

TI032

Incident date

January 15, 2020

Location

دوكوري, Dugure, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.471389, 41.745556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and eleven people were killed and up to five people, including one civilian, were reported injured in an alleged Turkish strike on a YBS base in the town of Dugure, Sinjar governorate, on January 15th, 2020, according to local sources.

Ekurd reported that Turkish warplanes had “bombed targets in the Dugure community in the mainly Yazidi Sinjar (Shingal) district. YBS commander Zardasht Shingali and four fighters were killed and five others, including a civilian, were wounded in the bombardment.”

According to Big News Network, the military press office stated that “five YBS members were killed at 11:35 local time (08:35 GMT) this Wednesday in the unidentified airstrike in the Hittin base, in the northern part of the Nineveh Operations Command division.”

Bas News reported eleven killed and stated that the brother of Shingali was also killed. The other nine killed were allegedly also fighters with the YBS. The YBS themselves reported in a written statement that four of their fighters had been killed, according to @dersi4m. An eyewitness told Kurdistan24: “I saw eight dead bodies with my own eyes and there were multiple other wounded people.”

Khadida Joki, director of Sunoon district, north of Sinjar district, said in a statement to Kirkuk Now that “Turkish planes targeted at 11:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, due to the targeting of the headquarters of Sinjar protection units.”

Saeb Khadr Nayef, the representative of the Yazidi quota in the House of Representatives, released a statement after the airstrike, stating that “unknown aircraft, as described by the Iraqi Security Media Cell today, targeted one of the Yezidi complexes (Hittin Complex) located in the north in the Sinjar district, and this is not the first time that In which the Sinjar district is targeted by aircraft that are not officially disclosed by the competent Iraqi authorities, this act that violates the national atmosphere and Iraqi sovereignty has resulted in loss of life and martyrdom of innocent Yazidis, not to mention the state of panic and fear that occurred between the people.”

The incident occured between 11:00 am and 11:35 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–11
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5

Sources (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of alleged Turkish airstrikes on the Digure community in the mainly Yazidi Sinjar district on January 15th, 2020 (via Ekurd Daily).
  • Zardasht Shingali, chief of YBS, a PKK affiliated group, was reportedly killed in a Turkish airstrike on the village of Dugure, Nineveh province, on January 15th, 2020 (via @BarzanSadiq).
  • Aftermath of alleged Turkish airstrikes on the village of Digure in the mainly Yazidi Sinjar district on January 15th, 2020 (via ANF English).
  • Photo of one of the YBS (Sinjar Resistance Units) fighters who were killed in an alleged Turkish attack on the village of Digure in the mainly Yazidi Sinjar district on January 15th, 2020. Name unknown (via @dersi4m).
  • Photo of one of the YBS (Sinjar Resistance Units) fighters who were killed in an alleged Turkish attack on the village of Digure in the mainly Yazidi Sinjar district on January 15th, 2020. Name unknown (via @dersi4m).
  • Photo of one of the YBS (Sinjar Resistance Units) fighters who were killed in an alleged Turkish attack on the village of Digure in the mainly Yazidi Sinjar district on January 15th, 2020. Name unknown (via @dersi4m).
  • Photo of Zardasht Shingali, chief of YBS, a PKK affiliated group, was reportedly killed in a Turkish airstrike on the village of Dugure, Nineveh province, on January 15th, 2020 (via @dersi4m).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Dugure (دوكوري) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.471389, 41.745556.  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
    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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–11
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5

Sources (23) [ collapse]