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

TI082

Incident date

June 15, 2022

Location

برخ, Parakh, Dohuk, Iraq

Geolocation

37.27665, 42.78737 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Parak in Duhok’s Zakho district on June 15, 2022.

According to Nalia Media Corporation, two people were wounded when Turkish forces bombarded Parakh in Duhok’s Zakho district. The reporter Wahid Sindi said that the two victims are a father and son who were working on their farm in the area and that both the father and son were sent to a hospital in Zakho for treatment.

Rudaw News provided the names of the two civilians injured: Nazir Omer Yousef, 51, and his 24-year-old son, Mohammed, were irrigating their orchard in Parakhian village when a bomb hit near them. Rudaw then added that both were injured due to shrapnel.

“We came under bombardment while we were irrigating our orchard,” the father told Rudaw’s Yousif Mousa at a hospital, adding that this is not the first time their village has come under bombardment. He was injured in his left thigh. Mohammed was injured in the left hand. He told Rudaw News: “All I can remember was that I heard a sound and found myself on the ground, bleeding.”

Dlsher Abdulsattar, mayor of Darkar, told Rudaw that the bomb ““was definitely fired by the Turkish army as far as we know,” he said, adding that the injured people have told him the same. He also told Rudaw that “Parakhian village is a populated village and there are 30 families….There are no PKK guerillas inside the village.” BasNews quoted Amir Ali, a spokesperson for the Independent Administration of Zakho, who reported that the airstrikes were carried out against “alleged positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) near Sharanshe resort.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Nazir Omer Yousef
51 years old male injured
Mohammed
24 years old male Son of Nazir injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or 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 attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Nazir Omer Yousef, 51, and his 24-year-old son, Mohammed, who were injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Parakhian in Duhok’s Zakho district on June 15, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Parakh (برخ), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.27665, 42.78737. 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
    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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS544

Incident date

August 9, 2022

Location

عامودا, Amuda, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.09513, 40.93347 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of a village in Amuda sub-district east of Qamishli city on August 9, 2022.

Hawar News reported that Turkish bombings of multiple villages east of Qamishli city and in Amuda sub-district resulted in the injury of seven civilians, four of whom are children. Hawar also documented the name of the civilian among the total that was injured in the Amuda sub-district: Rodi Sabri. The correspondent for Hawar added that the injured civilian was taken to the district hospital.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that Turkish forces bombed 24 villages and towns in the area, including villages in the district of Amuda. Local sources reported on civilian casualties in shelling on other villages shelled on the same day.

Kurdistan Rêbaza Barzaniyê Nemir added that the shelling caused an exodus of citizens from the area, displacing hundreds, due to the mortars and heavy machine guns.

Both Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Hawar News attribute shelling in Amuda to Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rodi Sabri رودي صبري
30 years old injured

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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Civilians injured by alleged Turkish shelling of multiple villages east of Qamishli city and in Amuda sub-district (TS543 and TS544) on August 9, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an unnamed village being struck, allegedly within the subdistrict of Amuda (عامودا). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Amuda are: 37.09513, 40.93347.

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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS571

Incident date

November 23, 2022

Location

علي اغا, Ali Agha, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.90373, 41.89885 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were injured by alleged Turkish airstrikes on the village of Ali Agha on November 23, 2022.

ANF reported that three people were wounded by Turkish bombardment of the village of Ali Agha in Tal Koçer. Two of the wounded were taken to Derik Hospital, while the other, who suffered a serious injury, was transferred to Qamishli Hospital.

A Facebook post by Metin Bekes reported that civilians were injured and identified four raids as being carried out by Turkish forces against the village of Ali Agha.

Alyaum TV and Metin Bekes both posted on Facebook that casualties resulted from Turkish strikes without specifying how many.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkey.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

  • Alleged Turkish bombardment of the village of Ali Agha on November 23, 2022. (Image posted by Ciwan Ibrahîm via Facebook)
  • Alleged Turkish bombardment of the village of Ali Agha on November 23, 2022. (Image posted by دجلة - الجزيرة السورية via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ali Agha (علي اغا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.90373, 41.89885. 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
    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

TS600

Incident date

June 12, 2023

Location

A road linking the villages of Herbel with Um Hawsh, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.417702, 37.198600 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One Russian soldier was killed and between three and four other Russian soldiers were injured in an attack on an armoured military personnel carrier allegedly carried out by Turkish forces. The vehicle was moving along a road that connects Herbel and Um Hawsh.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the injured Russians were transported to Afrin hospital and then transferred to another medical facility, though the nature of their injuries are currently unknown; while the Kurdish North Press Agency (NPA) report that 3 were injured in the attack, others such as the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 4 injured. Images of the vehicle’s remains published by Basenews and NPA display the armoured vehicle with ‘MP’ written on the front laid on its side with extensive damage particularly to the front of the vehicle.

Sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkish drones.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Russian Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3–4

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Damaged Russian military vehicle caused by alleged Turkish strikes in Aleppo governorate on June 12, 2023. (Image posted by Basnews)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the road linking Herbel (حربل) and Um Hawsh (أم حوش). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 36.417702, 37.198600.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Russian Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3–4

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS629

Incident date

September 17, 2023

Location

عامودا, Qamishlo-Amuda road, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Between two and eight civilians were injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on Ali Faro Road between Qamishlo and Amuda on September 17, 2023. Up to four militants were killed and three others were injured in the original strike, while the civilians were injured in a double tap strike as they tried to help the injured.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that four militants, including a commander, were killed and three members of the Internal Security Forces and two young male civilians on a motorbike were injured by shrapnel from a Turkish drone strike on the commander’s vehicle.

According to FOX Press, two members of the Internal Security Forces were killed and eight civilians were injured by the Turkish drone strikes on a vehicle on the road linking Qamishlo and Amuda. FOX Press added that the civilians were injured while they were trying to treat the injured from a previous strike and take them to the hospital.

Eastern Post Network posted on Facebook that a leader in the SDF named Ayman Joi was among the others killed, with this source reporting two others killed in the incident.

The North Press Agency identified the incident as occurring on the Ali Faro Road. All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkey.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Turkish drone strikes on a vehicle on the Qamishlo-Amuda road on September 17, 2023. (Image posted by Dilovan Çeto via Facebook)
  • Ayman Joli, alleged Turkish drone strikes on a vehicle on the Qamishlo-Amuda road on September 17, 2023. (Image posted by Eastern Post Network via Facebook)
  • The leader in the ranks of #SDF, called Ayman Joli, was killed with two of his companions as a result of an air strike by a Turkish drone that targeted their car on the Qamishli-Amuda road this morning

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–8
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS112

Incident date

January 23, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported that four civilians were injured in the vicinity of Jenderes in Afrin canton.

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sipan Ali
24 years old female named according to a report shared with Airwars injured
Sherevan Amen
32 years old female named according to a report shared with Airwars injured
Chekdar Ezalden
40 years old male named according to a report shared with Airwars injured
Adeb Omer
22 years old male named according to a report shared with Airwars injured

Summary

  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jindires, Afrin (جنديرس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.391667, 36.693056. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Incident Code

TS175

Incident date

February 9, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

In a private report to Airwars, the Kurdish Red Crescent named one as injured followed an alleged Turkish shelling of Jindires.

The type of weapon is unknown.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdek Fawzi
21 years old male injury to the knee injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 Jindires, Afrin (جنديرس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.391667, 36.693056. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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

TS207

Incident date

February 17, 2018

Location

مريمين, Mariamin, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.531667, 36.950833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three or four civilians were injured followed an alleged Turkish shelling on Mariamin, Syria, local media reported.

According to Rumaf Turkish forces targeted five areas in Mariamin, including Um Al-Qura mosque, injuring four civilians, who are in a serious condition.

Nuce24 reported that the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries targeted the mosque of the village of Mermin belonging to Shara. The shelling resulted in the injury of 3 civilians, in addition to causing physical damage to the property of the residents.

Other sources also reported that the mosque was struck, resulting in three people being wounded. Reports said that civilian property was also damaged.

In a private report to Airwars, the Kurdish Red Crescent named 33-year-old Sami Naf’e Hassan as having suffered facial injuries and bruises.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sami Naf’e Hassan, Mreemeen,
33 years old male bruises to face injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Translation: These pictures from the village of Mariamin belonging to the area of Sharan in the region of Afrin were bombed by mercenaries on the side of Azaz (Source: @lukmanqadre)
  • A picture shows destruction in the olive oil squeezer building following an alleged Turkish shelling on Mariamin (Source: SANA)
  • A picture shows destruction in the olive oil squeezer building following an alleged Turkish shelling on Mariamin (Source: SANA)
  • A picture shows damages of the olive oil squeezer machines following an alleged Turkish shelling on Mariamin (Source: SANA)
  • A picture shows damages of Um Al-Qura mosque and a car following an alleged Turkish shelling on Mariamin (Source: Rumaf)
  • A picture shows damages of Um Al-Qura mosque following an alleged Turkish shelling on Mariamin (Source: Rumaf)
  • A picture shows damages of Um Al-Qura mosque and car following an alleged Turkish shelling on Mariamin (Source: Rumaf)
  • A picture shows damages of both outside the Um Al-Qura mosque and some cars following an alleged Turkish shelling on Mariamin (Source: @lukmanqadre)
  • ‏A picture shows damages of a civilian house following an alleged Turkish shelling on Mariamin (Source: Kawthar)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mariamin, Aleppo (مريمين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.531667, 36.950833. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]