Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

An internally displaced Kurdish family in northern Iraq, 2016 (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
Turkish Military
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

TI028

Incident date

September 25, 2019

Location

كانى مازێ, Kani Mazi, Dohuk, Iraq

Geolocation

36.922590, 43.447700 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, 19 or 20 years old, named as Yousef Jamal, died in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kani Mazi village, Jammak, Amedi, sources said.

According to ANF, “A 20-year-old teenager was seriously injured in the bombing and died in hospital despite doctors tried everything to save his life.”

Ninanews added that five other civilians were wounded.

Turkey confirmed carrying out strikes on the area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Yousef Jamal
19 or 20 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "As a result of the coordinated work of the Turkish Armed Forces and the National Intelligence Organization, the so-called special force element 2 PKK terrorist was neutralized in the vehicle they used with the air operation carried out in Gara region in the north of Iraq. #MSB#TSK"

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kani Mazi (كانى مازێ) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.922590, 43.447700. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Turkish Military

Within the scope of the successful operation of Pawe-3, 3 PKK terrorists belonging to a separatist terrorist organization were made ineffective with the air operation conducted in Haftanin region. Thus, the number of terrorists neutralized in the north of Iraq today is 6. #MSB#TSK

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI029

Incident date

September 25, 2019

Location

زيوكة, Zaywakah, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Geolocation

35.91137, 45.41096 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and five civilians including two children were wounded in alleged Turkish strikes on Zaywakah village, according to local media.

Basnews reported: “Five civilians, including two children, were injured in Turkish air strikes which have been going on for two days inside the Kurdistan Region”.

ANF said two civilians were wounded.

The Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraqi Kurdistan (CPTIK) reported in a list shared with Airwars in January 2020 that Dilamn Rasul Awlla and Omer Awlla Hasan, presumably both 25 years old, had been injured in the airstrike, according to the village leader.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Dilamn Rasul Awlla
25 years old male injured
Omer Awlla Hasan
25 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • 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]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Zaywakah village, Spet 25th 2019 (via Kurdistan 24)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Zaywakah (زيوكة) for which the generic coordinates are: 35.91137, 45.41096. 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
    2–5
  • 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

TS292

Incident date

October 9, 2019

Location

Mishrafa village, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.804224, 40.108060 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the first civilian casualty incident for “Operation Peace Spring” – Turkey’s offensive on Kurdish-led militias in northeast Syria – one or two civilians were killed and a further two injured in Mishrafa village, according to various sources on the ground.

All known sources attributed responsibility to Turkish airstrikes and reported that two civilians were killed.

The CEO of DeirEzzor24, Omar Abu Layla, tweeted that the two young men who had been killed in the strikes were from the Tal Diab village.

Mishrafa village is to the west of Ras al Ayn, a city that thousands of civilians were reportedly fleeing when “indiscriminate artillery and air bombardment” from Turkey began.

By 18:25 local time, the Coordination and Military Ops Centre of the SDF tweeted that Mishrafa had been emptied of civilians following the strikes.

Turkey’s long-planned offensive on the northeast began as US troops pulled back from the border areas earlier this week, after President Trump gave the green light for the Turkish invasion in an unexpected announcement on Sunday evening.

The incident occured at approximately 6:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Basel Moudar Al Hamdal
20 years old male injured
Basel Matar Mohammad
19 years old male injured

Summary

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

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Kurdish Red Crescent list of casualties between 9 and 13 October 2019

  • A wounded civilian following an alleged Turkish strike on Mishrafa Village, Oct 9th (via Rudaw)
  • A civilian (right), reportedly wounded in an alleged Turkish strike on Mishrafa Village, Oct 9th (via Rudaw)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mishrafa village, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.804224, 40.108060. 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 – 2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS306B

Incident date

October 9–December 10, 2019

Location

الزيتونة, Al Zeytuniyyah, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.064253, 41.231014 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was reported killed and several other civilians including children injured in an alleged Turkish forces artillery strike on Al Zeytouniyah in Qamishli, on October 9th or 10th 2019, according to local media sources.

The Investigative Journal reported:  “Qamishlo, Syria-based journalist Baderkhan Ahmad tells the Investigative Journal about Turkey’s assault on northeastern Syria, including the shelling of his neighborhood and the death of one of his neighbor, a Syriac Christian woman. Ahmad and many others in his area were surprised by the scale of Turkey’s attack and had expected the international community to step in. ‘We are very worried for what will happen in my region in the next hours,’ he said. ‘Of course, we still have hope, but the people here don’t trust what Trump is saying.’

Ahvalnews reported that “Turkish air strikes hit a home in Qamishli on Wednesday [Oct 9th], killing one woman and injuring a man and his children, as well as a prison holding ISIS fighters”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Zeytuniyyah (الزيتونة) in the city of Qamishlo (القامشلي‎‭). The generic coordinates for Al Zeytuniyyah are: 37.064253, 41.231014. 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
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS293

Incident date

October 9, 2019

Location

رأس العين‎, Ras al-Ain, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.849574, 40.071603 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died and at least five more were wounded in alleged Turkish shelling in the vicinity of Ras al-Ain, local media reported.

@NPA_SY tweeted: “Five civilians were injured,and taken to Lekirin hospital in Tal-Tamr west of Hasakah, after being hit by Turkish artillery shelling on the city of Ras al-Ain and surrounding villages.”

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “another citizen was killed in in the vicinity and countryside of Ras Al-Ayn area in Al-Hasakah.Turkish shelling also left at least 13 civilian injuries, and the number of casualties is expected to increase due to the presence of some injuries in critical condition.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–13
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ras al-Ain (رأس العين‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.849574, 40.071603. 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
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–13
  • 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

TS294

Incident date

October 9, 2019

Location

Mabrouka IDP camp, Ras al-Ain, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.849574, 40.071603 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

@NPA_SY tweeted: that the SDF Press Office said  “a child lost his life in Mabrouka IDP camp, Ras al-Ain, due to the difficulty of moving him to hospital following Turkish indiscriminate shelling”.

Hawar news agency also reported the death of a child.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Mabrouka IDP camp, Ras al-Ain, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.849574, 40.071603. 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 child)
  • 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

TS295

Incident date

October 9, 2019

Location

Mitkalta village, Tal Abyad, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.556229, 39.107500 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two or three civilians from the same family – a father, mother, and their child – died in an alleged Turkish strike on Matkalat village in the countryside of Tal Abyad area in the northern countryside of Al-Raqqah, according to local media.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “three people, a man, his wife, and their child,” died.

However, @NPA_SY put the death toll at two (the man and his wife), reporting that they died when a Turkish airstrike hit their house.

Hawar News named the three victims, but said that the child had survived the attack.

According to Hawar News, “The Turkish army attacked the village of Metlkalta with missiles. Rebia Masmaîl and Mihemed Hac Qadir were slaughtered and their 9-year-old son Rêzan Masmaîl was injured as a result of the missile hitting the vehicle they were in. Rêzan Îsmaîl, who has four brothers and a sister, is being treated at Minbic Hospital.”

The source added: “Nine-year-old Rêzan is unaware of the death of his parents. Enwer Umer, one of Rêzan’s relatives, said: ‘My children called me. They said that four missiles were thrown into the village by the occupying Turkish state. One of the missiles hit a vehicle carrying Rêzan and his family”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Adult female killed
Adult male killed
9 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Kurdish Red Crescent list of casualties caused by Turkish military attacks between 9 and 13 Oct 2019

  • Mrs. Rabeah Ismail and her husband Mohammad Hajj Qader Ismail. (via SN4HR)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Mitkalta village, Tal Abyad, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.556229, 39.107500. 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
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS296

Incident date

October 9, 2019

Location

Tirbe-Sipi, Eastern Qamishli, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.026914, 41.545174 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died and up to 10 more were injured in alleged Turkish shelling on Tirbe-Sipi, Eastern Qamishli, according to local media.

@NPA_SY reported one civilian death – and the injury of six more.

Other sources put the number of wounded at four or five.

Yehya Ibrahim Aljasem, 25-years-old, was named as killed.

Buyerpress noted the injury of a “six-year-old child”.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Majid Hamo
37 years old male Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Jamil Hamo
50 years old male Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Hussien Hamo
10 years old male Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Abdulghani Hamo
17 years old male Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Yehya Ibrahim Aljasem
25 years old male killed

The victims were named as:

16 years old injured
Hamid Riyad
23 years old male injured
Turkiya Hajji
16 years old female injured
Abdulghani delf
15 years old male injured
Ali Said
Age unknown male injured
Ahmed Othman
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Smoke rises over Tirbe-Sipi, Eastern Qamishli, Hasaka Governorate, Oct 9th, following an alleged Turkish strike (via Bakur)
  • Smoke rises over Tirbe-Sipi, Eastern Qamishli, Hasaka Governorate, Oct 9th, following an alleged Turkish strike (via Buyerpress)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tirbe-Sipi, Eastern Qamishli, for which the generic coordinates are: 37.026914, 41.545174. 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
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–10
  • 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]