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

TS587

Incident date

February 16, 2023

Location

تل رفعت, Tal Rifaat, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On February 16th 2023, one civilian, a man named Yusef Abed, aged 70, was reportedly killed and one civilian was injured as a result of alleged Turkish forces’ artillery shelling of Tal Rifaat in the northern countryside of Aleppo, Syria.

Afrin Activists (شبكة نشطاء عفرين AAN) reported on Facebook that the other injured civilian was Sheikh Taha Abdel-Fattah, aged 50, who was “severely wounded.”

Many sources reported that this shelling caused material damage to the properties of the civilians, in an area which is already “amid a state of panic and chaos” as a result of the previous earthquake in February, and fear of new quakes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Youssef Obaid
70 years old male killed
Sheikh Taha Abdel Fattah
50 years old male injured

Summary

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

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • "The citizen 'Youssef Obaid, 70 years old' of the Arab component, lost his life and the citizen 'Sheikh Taha Abdel Fattah, 50 years old' was injured as a result of artillery shelling targeting the town of Tal Rifaat" (Image via Efrin News / Facebook)
  • "The citizen 'Youssef Obaid, 70 years old' of the Arab component, lost his life and the citizen 'Sheikh Taha Abdel Fattah, 50 years old' was injured as a result of artillery shelling targeting the town of Tal Rifaat" (Image via Efrin News / Facebook)
  • "The citizen 'Youssef Obaid, 70 years old' of the Arab component, lost his life and the citizen 'Sheikh Taha Abdel Fattah, 50 years old' was injured as a result of artillery shelling targeting the town of Tal Rifaat" (Image via Efrin News / Facebook)
  • "The citizen 'Youssef Obaid, 70 years old' of the Arab component, lost his life and the citizen 'Sheikh Taha Abdel Fattah, 50 years old' was injured as a result of artillery shelling targeting the town of Tal Rifaat" (Image via Efrin News / Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "The bombing of the Turkish occupation army on Tal Rifaat district of al-Shahba canton resulted in the death of an elderly person (70 years old) and the wounding of another" (Image via Rojinew)

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 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS618

Incident date

July 30, 2023

Location

قرية تل اللبن, Tal Al-Laban village, Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were injured and civilian property was damaged by heavy artillery shelling in Tal Al-Laban Village in the Tal Tamr countryside of Northwestern Syria on July 30, 2023. The attack is alleged to have been carried out by Turkish military personnel.

The three civilians injured were named by Hawar News as Omar Sadiq Sheikh Ali, Mahmoud Muhammad Al-Mayyouf, and Ahmed Ali Muhammad. The civilians were reported by Radio Arta to have been in a car belonging to a civilian construction contactor when the shells hit, though after being taken to Martyr Likrin Hospital the three men were discharged with ‘light’ injuries after receiving first aid. It is unclear to what extent the damage was to local civilian property during this attack.

All of the sources attributed the shelling to Turkish forces.

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
    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 (8) [ collapse]

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
    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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS653

Incident date

October 25, 2023

Location

قرية المشيرفة, village Al Mushairfa in the Ain Issa district, Ain Issa, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the afternoon or evening of Wednesday, October 25th, 2023, alleged Turkish artillery shelling struck the village of Al Mushairfa located 8 km east of the town of Ain Issa, Syria, injuring one civilian and striking grain silos.

The injured civilian has been named by most of the sources as a 26-year old Bashar Ahmed Al-Fanash, although North News reported that his age was 23. He was transported to Ain Issa Hospital where he received treatment for his wounds, some of which were located on his head as pictured.

Numerous local sources such as Hawar News reported that the bombs also hit a grain warehouse and silos in the city centre, however did not provide further details on the damage.

All sources attributed the attack to Turkish military forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Bashar Ahmed Al-Fanash بشار أحمد
26 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: ANHA facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ain Esa Plus facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS077

Incident date

February 7, 2017

Location

شيا عفرين, Shya, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.496944, 36.598333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a private report, the Kurdish Red Crescent named the following one civilian as wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Shya, Syria:

‘Hassan Suleiman Omar, 60, a shrapnel in the eye’

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

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.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

    • English
    • English

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Shya, Afrin (شيا عفرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.496944, 36.598333. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

    • English
    • English

Incident Code

TS224

Incident date

February 23, 2018

Location

قسطل جاندو, Qastal Jando, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.630278, 37.017222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media named two boys as wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Qastal Jando, Syria. However, these two boys were also named as wounded in event 107 at Kotana.

There is, therefore, currently confusion over the location in which the boys were wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Muhammad Hassan
16 years old injured
Rashid Mustafa Rasho
15 years old injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Rashid Mustafa, injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Qastal Jando, 23rd February 2018. (via Rumaf)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Qastal Jando (قسطل جاندو), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.630278, 37.017222. 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
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS256

Incident date

March 7, 2018

Location

ميدانكي,عفرين, Medankii district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.6425, 36.881389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to several local reports, at least five civilians were wounded followed an alleged Turkish airstrike on the Medankii district in Afrin, Syria.

Many media outlet posted picture and videos that reveal the civilians injured being treated at the medical centre following the incident.

Multiple sources have published the name and age of the victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nairouz Nuri Rashouh
37 years old female Via Afrin now facebook post injured
Dilshan Hassan Hamou
20 years old Via Afrin now facebook post injured
Mohammed Mustafa Sido
22 years old male Via Afrin now facebook post injured
Khadija Mohammed Abdo
45 years old female Via Afrin now facebook post injured
Ezzat Mustafa
80 years old Via Afrin now facebook post injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows an injured woman following alleged Turkish shelling on the Medankii district in Afrin, 7th March 2018. (via: Ekrem Berekat)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A video reveals several civilians being treated at the medical centre following an alleged Turkish shelling on the Medankii district in Afrin, 7th March 2018. (via: Hawar)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows a man, injured in his head after the alleged Turkish shelling on the Medankii district in Afrin, 7th March 2018. (via: Hawar)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image displays a woman, wounded after the alleged Turkish shelling on the Medankii district in Afrin, 7th March 2018. (via: Hawar)
  • A list names showing the injured. (via Hawar)
  • An image shows an old man, injured after the alleged Turkish shelling on the Medankii district in Afrin, 7th March 2018 (via: Afrin Now)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Medankii district, Afrin (ميدانكي,عفرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.6425, 36.881389. 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
    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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS091

Incident date

August 24, 2017

Location

ام حوش, Um Hawsh village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.411111, 37.212778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two men were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Umm Hawsh in Aleppo, local media reported.

According to SDF Press, “Ahmed Hussein Hamdoun, aged 20, and Mu’taz al-Hussein, aged 15, were wounded in various parts of their bodies by shrapnel from the shells that fell near them while they were traveling from Deir Jamal to Um Hawash village. They were transferred to Afrin Hospital in Afrin and are in a stable condition”.

Dlo_jawish also reported that two young men were injured in Turkish shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Hussein Hamdoun
20 years old male injured
Mu'taz al-Hussein
15 years old male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Um Hawsh village (ام حوش), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.411111, 37.212778. 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
    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

TS299

Incident date

October 9, 2019

Location

القحطانية, Kel Hesnak, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.975184, 42.245577 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were reported injured as a result of an alleged Turkish forces airstrike on Kel Hesnak village in Hasakah, October 9th 2019, according to local media.

ANHA reported: “The bombing of the city center continued and four civilians were injured. Injured civilians were hospitalized.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rojin Mohammad Hani روجين محمد هاني
18 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Kel Hesnak (القحطانية), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.975184, 42.245577. 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
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]