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

TS628

Incident date

September 6, 2023

Location

قرية طحمة, Tahna village, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three children were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Tahna village on September 6, 2023. At the time of reporting, all three children were in the intensive care unit in serious condition.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that three children from the same family were seriously injury by Turkish shelling of Tahna village and were taken to Al-Barkal hospital in Manbij city for treatment.

ANF reported the names of the children injured according to hospital records: Weam Al-Jassem (15 years old), Ibrahim Al-Jassem (12 years old), and Jalal Al-Jassem (14 years old).

The administrator and assistant surgeon at Al-Barkal Hospital, Ahmed Al-Ali, told ANF that two of the children’s were opened because of the presence of shrapnel, and two of the children had their spleens removed. He also said The first child, Weam Al-Jassem, has an injury to the kidney and stomach and had his spleen removed. The other child, Jalal Al-Jassem, has the same injuries, but his kidney is more damaged. There is a possibility that we will remove it within the next 24 hours, but now we are waiting in the hope that it will return to work and if it stops completely. The third child, Ibrahim Al-Jassem, was subjected to a chest explosion due to a bad wind.”

News of north and east of Syria posted on Facebook that the medical staff treating the children said “We are making efforts to save their lives.”

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Weam Al-Jassem وئام الجاسم
15 years old injured
Ibrahim Al-Jassem إبراهيم الجاسم
12 years old injured
Jalal Al-Jassem جلال الجاسم
14 years old injured

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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Children being treated for serious injuries following alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Tahna on September 6, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS163

Incident date

February 8, 2018

Location

كفر شيلا, Kafr Shila, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.509722, 36.833611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to several local media report, one woman and her two children were wounded in an alleged Turkish bombing of Kafr Shila, Syria.

Airwars researchers translated the video footage from Rumaf facebook post, which has now unfortunately been removed.

“Voice off camera asking woman: what kind of shelling was it? Was it artillery or plane?

Woman: it was artillery. We were sleeping at my brother’s house. We usually sleep there and then we go to our house in the morning and spend the day times there.   In the morning I was in our home and getting breakfast ready I went to the kitchen to get a cup and I was shot in my foot and then there was artillery shelling and fire arms they were just hitting us. We were all injured. We were all civilians, they hit the civilians not the military. There is no military there.

Off camera: you mean they’re deliberately hitting the civilians

Woman: yes they demolished the civilians’ homes. They demolished half the village. There are still people there under siege we’ve spoken to them they’re still shelling the houses. There is a cave people are taking shelter in because the village is still being hit because they know there are civilians they won’t’ let anyone come out alive.”

The another video of a young injured boy was also used to document the shelling of Ashka Gharbi village, Jandrissa, Afrin where as many as two civilians were injured. It is unclear to which incident it belongs. 

The incident occured at 23:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

35 years old female a displaced woman from Tallada injured
10 years old male wounded in Deir Balut, a displaced person from Tallaha injured
10 years old male wounded in Deir Balut, a displaced person from Tallaha injured

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A video reveals the child, being treated at the medical centre followed an alleged Turkish strike on Kafr Shila, 8th February 2018. (via: SDF Video)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kafr Shila, Aleppo (كفر شيلا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.509722, 36.833611. 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
  • 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

TS195

Incident date

February 13, 2018

Location

سعرنجكة٫شران , Sa'arnajka, Sharan district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.6205222, 36.9417858 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Sa’arnajka, according to the Kurdish Red Crescent.

The Smart News Agency also reported two wounded civilians but cited the Kurdish Red Crescent report.

Please note, some of the images from TS193 and TS194 are also reported for this incident. We are unable to determine which incident they belong to.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Sa'arnajka, Sharan district, Afrin, 13th February 2018. (via The Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Sa'arnajka, Sharan district, Afrin, 13th February 2018. (via The Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Sa'arnajka, Sharan district, Afrin, 13th February 2018. (via The Kurdish Red Crescent)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Sa’arnajka, Sharan district, Afrin (سعرنجكة٫شران ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.6205222, 36.9417858. 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI008

Incident date

September 4, 2017

Location

نهيل , Nahil area of Al-Amadiya, Dahook, Iraq

Geolocation

37.092003, 43.486966 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Iraqi Spring Media, reported an alleged bombing by “the Turkish air force” of the Nahil area of the Al-Amadiyah district, north of Dohuk – though the source said that there was no information on civilian harm.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 Nahil area of Al-Amadiya (نهيل ), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.092003, 43.486966. 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
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS302

Incident date

October 10, 2019

Location

راس العين, Serekaniye, Hasaka, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between five and seven civilians were reported killed and five others injured in an alleged Turkish forces airstrike or artillery attack on Ras Al Ain, Hasakeh, Syria on October 10th 2019, according to local sources.

Kurdish Red Crescent and Violation Documentation Center in North Syria named the seven victims as Ammar Abdo Al-Taym, Ahmed Mohammed Altaym, Bashar Ahmed Sinjar, Ezzeldin Abdul Aziz Mohammed, Ibrahim Ali, Abdulaziz Jassim \ Ras al-Ain

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

18 years old male killed
24 years old male killed
19 years old male killed
21 years old male killed
18 years old male killed
Ali Mustafa Mustafa
Age unknown killed
Khalaf Aboud Khalid
Age unknown killed

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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Serekaniye (راس 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
  • 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]

Incident Code

TS306A

Incident date

October 10, 2019

Location

راس العين, Ras al Ain, Hasaka, Syria

Geolocation

36.848579, 40.073576 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed in an alleged Turkish forces artillery strike on Ras Al Ain in Hasaka on October 10th 2019, according to local media sources.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SN4HR), Khalaf al Habloush and Khatib Sofi Hammi were killed in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Khalaf Aboud Alkhaled
55 years old Could be same person as Khalaf Abd al Khallouf al Habloushi killed

Summary

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

  • Khatib Sofi Hammi reported killed in an alleged Turkish artillery strike on Ras Al Ain, October 10th 2019. (via SN4HR)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ras Al Ain (رأس العين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.848579, 40.073576. 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
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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]

Incident Code

TS357

Incident date

October 18, 2019

Location

Zirgan, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.833607, 40.285835 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians died and between eight and 16 more were wounded in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Zirgan, Ras al-Ain, according to sources on the ground.

Hawar reported: “Of the 8 civilians injured as a result of the bombing, three of them were killed.”

@TurkANHA also put the death toll at three civilians, with 12 more injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Ali Klej
2 years old male injured
Adil Ahmad Hussein
40 years old male injured
assan Haj Ali Nawaf
50 years old male injured
Fadiya Muhammad Eida
3 years old female Suffered from "trauma" injured
Amal Muhammad Shareef
25 years old female Suffered from "trauma" injured
Bangin Lazgeen Atiya
7 years old male Suffered from "trauma" injured
Muhsen Ali Jasim
16 years old male leg injury injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–16
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Zirgan, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.833607, 40.285835. 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
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–16
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS361b

Incident date

October 21, 2019

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.527201, 37.953642 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Kurdish Red Crescent, six civilians were injured in an alleged Turkish forces attack on Manbij in Aleppo governorate in Syria on October 21st, 2019. The civilians injured include three children aged between 1 and 10, and three women.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Leen Ali
58 years old female Leg injury injured
Mariya Ali
1 years old female Fragments in her body injured
Hamza Meqatti
1 years old male Leg injury injured
Faten al Ali
46 years old female Trauma injured
Jana Meqatti
10 years old female Trauma injured
Khadeeja Yelesh
30 years old female Leg injury injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Manbij (منبج), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.527201, 37.953642. 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
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]